Firstly, are you in Dartford, Kent or nearby the area tomorrow Saturday 8th July 2023?
If yes, consider going along to Wellbeing Link’s ‘Pamper, Wellbeing & Gift Fair.’
It’s been a funny and curious five days, for me at least, in the local Dartford, Kent, UK community of which I am part.
Why?
Last Monday evening I attended a local networking event hosted by Dartford Living where I met a lovely human called Sue.
Sue is one of the co-founders of a local community support group called Wellbeing Link which as can be seen below has a powerful strapline of “Sick and tired of being sick and tired?”
How many people in Western corporate spaces and beyond can relate to that …?
I have walked and driven past this below poster multiple times over the past months which is less than 10 minutes walk from my house, but until last Monday, I hadn’t fully appreciated what was on offer, nor the impact that they were making locally.
Cue my chance encounter with a new friend and West Hill Neighbourhood Watch member Angel yesterday lunchtime when I was out delivering some leaflets, where we literally bumped into each other and spent over an hour chatting, sharing and joining some dots!
Towards the end of our exploration, and with two of the most gorgeous and patient husky dogs ever in hand, we realised that Sue from Wellbeing Link was a key, common link between us both! — as of 5 days ago anyway!
Making real world impact
I felt moved to understand and experience first-hand what was happening at Wellbeing Link as I couldn’t ignore all of this week’s synchronicity, so attended their monthly meetup today, Friday 7th July 2023.
The location where Wellbeing Link hosts their monthly Friday gatherings
- Behind the above doors sits an alternative universe to that which we have been conditioned to accept as ‘normal’ in the West
- Behind these doors sits deep, humble, connected, empathetic humans and community
- Behind these doors, there is an energy of inquiry, vulnerability and curiosity
- Behind these doors is a community of people that laugh, are free to move and enter and exit the space at will
- Behind these doors there is no judgment and the weightlessness, energetically of the space is palpable — there is zero pressure
- Behind these doors there is inclusivity. Age and cognitive diversity, from age 14 to over 90. Nobody talking over one another, nor jostling to ‘be the one’ at the centre
- Behind these doors is an ease, a comfort that is felt, even as a ‘newbie’
- Behind these doors is an opportunity to slow down, to connect to your breath, to be in community with local residents
- Behind these doors are residents from the local area and further afield coming together to meet learn, share and even grow
- Behind these doors, there is the possibility to support Sue, and their co-founder Julie, with volunteering and other support tasks as they continue to make their impact on the local community, near and further away
As I left the session today, I met one of the attendees outside who shared that they have been coming to Wellbeing Link for the past 3 years and it has transformed their life.
“Transformed their life”
On entering the space today I met another lady who has lost so much weight as a direct result of reducing their meal portion size after education received via Wellbeing Link.
There is no “get rich in 3 easy steps” or “how to lose weight by never eating again” programmes.
Healthy, honest, connected community.
Whether someone is looking for a company due to the feeling of isolation or loneliness or if someone is looking for advice and support around developing healthier habits, Sue, her team and their volunteers have got you covered.
As I re-read the above section of this blog it is so clear to me, despite the wakeup that was COVID-19, that Western business as usual at work, in society and in the world at large is back and at even wilder rates and pace as ChatGPT and other big tech distractions are sold to keep us disconnected from ourselves, one another and the systems that sustain us.
Thank goodness for Wellbeing Link!
A massage to the future
Today’s talk and activity was all about massage.
After some time and space for people to connect and grab a drink, a lady led the session today by offering a talk about massage, its health benefits, and there was also the opportunity to practice in pairs.
What was interesting and one of my new learnings today, was that if you have taken an international flight within the past two weeks, you should not have a massage as there is a risk that you could still be carrying a DVT risk from flying.
I had never heard of this, but I trusted the speaker not to engage in the massage today.
In addition, the speaker offered a range of other interesting facts, not least the importance of massage as part of a holistic package of healthy living over just taking prescribed drugs.
Throughout the talk and into the paired massage exercise, there is nothing but care, inclusivity, humour and connection abound.
Different humans from different backgrounds and all with different reasons for being there today were all gracious, open and the depth of listening was powerful to witness.
An antidote to our ‘always-on,’ disconnected and conditioned lives
The space and community that Wellbeing Link offer is truly an antidote to our collapsing, always-on, hyper-productive ways.
In addition to my day job within chemicals, I also speak internationally on topics such as vulnerability; change is an inside job and developing healthier, co-creative cultures and guess what?
Everything I am speaking to and pointing leaders and organisations towards is exactly what Wellbeing Link is embodying.
- Vulnerability
- Listening
- Humility
- Empathy
- Safety
- Community
- Co-creation
- Letting go
The list of innate, deeply human traits, collective intelligence and energy is clear to see.
It is what is ‘inside’ that requires more focus than just what’s going on, on the outside.
What’s coming up at Wellbeing Link?
Below you will find a range of events coming up between now and the end of 2023, but again.
Could you invest some energy to become a volunteer for Wellbeing Link?
I will be back, and I sense in a range of capacities over time.
Spaces like this and leaders like Sue, Julie and Angel reinforce my knowing that we are traversing that liminal space between worlds.
Wellbeing Link, I feel, is actually a practice ground for the deeply innate, humanistic traits and skills that will need to be remembered as we imagine anew.
Our current ways are neither sustainable, healthy nor enhancing of life.
Everything about what Wellbeing Link are doing is.
Blog post by Garry Turner, Disruption and Innovation Catalyst