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Tree of Dreams campaign heads online

Tree of Dreams campaign heads online

by Adrienne | Sep 16, 2021 | Events, Mental Health Awareness, News, Supporters, Tree of Dreams

Due to current social restrictions, Iris Foundation’s annual Tree of Dreams campaign, which coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, went virtual this year. In lieu of a public gathering, locals were encouraged to light a candle in...
Budgewoi Tree of Dreams lights up local hopes

Budgewoi Tree of Dreams lights up local hopes

by Adrienne | Dec 9, 2020 | Fundraising, News, Tree of Dreams

Locals gathered as the fifth annual Budgewoi Tree of Dreams lit up in support of Iris Foundation on December 5. The Budgewoi Tree of Dreams founder, Kylie Skinner, began this special tradition after losing an unforgettable friend to suicide. Never wanting Sarah to be...

A Good Time to Ask: R U OK?

by Adrienne | Sep 10, 2020 | Events, Lived Experience, Mental Health Awareness, News, Tree of Dreams

10th September – World Suicide Prevention Day  For organisations like Iris Foundation that are working to reduce the risk of suicide in our community, September 10 is an important date. Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, with mental health initiatives...
Iris connecting people – from a safe distance

Iris connecting people – from a safe distance

by Adrienne | Aug 25, 2020 | CBWN, Events, Lived Experience, Mental Health Awareness, News, Tree of Dreams

Part of Iris Foundation’s mission is to foster connections – a challenging prospect in a socially distanced world. Our most recent activities, including our in-school programs, our Tree of Dreams campaign and our second annual resilience awards ceremony, have been...
Connections 2×2 Workshops in primary, high schools this term

Connections 2×2 Workshops in primary, high schools this term

by Adrienne | Aug 11, 2020 | Lived Experience, Mental Health Awareness, News, Newsletters, Tree of Dreams, Youth Mental Health

Though official data is some way off, there is little doubt that anxiety and social isolation have spiked during the current public health crisis. To help mitigate the impact on mental health, Iris Foundation has developed a new Connections 2×2 Workshop for students...
Tree of Dreams lights up at Budgewoi

Tree of Dreams lights up at Budgewoi

by Adrienne | Dec 9, 2019 | Events, Fundraising, Lived Experience, News, Tree of Dreams, Youth Mental Health

The fourth annual Budgewoi Tree of Dreams lighting ceremony took place on Saturday, 7 December. The Tree of Dreams is an important community fundraiser for Iris Foundation each year. Donations flow directly into resilience-building programs like Cool Connections in...

Recent Articles

  • Touch Points: 21 October, 2021
  • Touch Points: 7 October, 2021
  • Iris among finalists for Regional Business Awards
  • Tune In For Ten this Mental Health Month
  • Touch Points: 23 September 2021

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Iris Foundation
16 hours ago
Iris Foundation

Beautiful and clever ❤️ enjoy!

my brain and
heart divorced

a decade ago

over who was
to blame about
how big of a mess
I have become

eventually,
they couldn't be
in the same room
with each other

now my head and heart
share custody of me

I stay with my brain
during the week

and my heart
gets me on weekends

they never speak to one another
- instead, they give me
- the same note to pass
- to each other every week
and their notes they
send to one another always
says the same thing:

"This is all your fault"

on Sundays
my heart complains
about how my
head has let me down
in the past

and on Wednesday
my head lists all
of the times my
heart has screwed
things up for me
in the future

they blame each
other for the
state of my life

there's been a lot
of yelling - and crying

so,

lately, I've been
spending a lot of
time with my gut
who serves as my
unofficial therapist

most nights, I sneak out of the
window in my ribcage

and slide down my spine
and collapse on my
gut's plush leather chair
that's always open for me

~ and I just sit sit sit sit
until the sun comes up

last evening,
my gut asked me
if I was having a hard
time being caught
between my heart
and my head

I nodded

I said I didn't know
if I could live with
either of them anymore

"my heart is always sad about
something that happened yesterday
while my head is always worried
about something that may happen tomorrow,"
I lamented

my gut squeezed my hand

"I just can't live with
my mistakes of the past
or my anxiety about the future,"
I sighed

my gut smiled and said:

"in that case,
you should
go stay with your
lungs for a while,"

I was confused
- the look on my face gave it away
"if you are exhausted about
your heart's obsession with
the fixed past and your mind's focus
on the uncertain future

your lungs are the perfect place for you

there is no yesterday in your lungs
there is no tomorrow there either

there is only now
there is only inhale
there is only exhale
there is only this moment

there is only breath

and in that breath
you can rest while your
heart and head work
their relationship out."

this morning,
while my brain
was busy reading
tea leaves

and while my
heart was staring
at old photographs

I packed a little
bag and walked
to the door of
my lungs

before I could even knock
she opened the door
with a smile and as
a gust of air embraced me
she said

"what took you so long?"

~ John Roedel (johnroedel.com) ... See MoreSee Less

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Poetry | John Roedel - Writer, Poet, and Storyteller.

johnroedel.com

Poetry, Writer, John Roedel, Hey God Hey John, Author, Speaker, Comedian
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Love this Sue Liptrott. Let’s all try to breathe easier 💕

Iris Foundation
4 days ago
Iris Foundation

We are always striving to ensure we provide the best quality in the programs and services we offer to those in our community.. we have been working hard behind the scenes ... See MoreSee Less

We are always striving to ensure we provide the best quality in the programs and services we offer to those in our community.. we have been working hard behind the scenes
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Iris Foundation
6 days ago
Iris Foundation

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. ... See MoreSee Less

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Iris Foundation
1 week ago
Iris Foundation

fb.me/e/TjgbY4g2
3 weeks away!! Make sure you book in to let us know you’re joining us💜 www.CBWN.org.au ... See MoreSee Less

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Iris Foundation
2 weeks ago
Iris Foundation

fb.watch/av6VqfpkAB/
Congratulations to the Boutique Team look how excited the volunteers are!! Thank you Bolsta Fundraising very much appreciated. ... See MoreSee Less

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Happy team

Iris Foundation updated their status.
2 weeks ago
Iris Foundation

... See MoreSee Less

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My mum's nursing home may be coming out of lockdown in a few days.

I get to argue, face to face, with my son who has been living in Germany for 4 years and unable to visit for two 🙂

I had a magic dip in the ocean at Avoca Beach, feel so cleansed. 🙏🏼

I cut my timber for the front Arbor while I waited for the plaster to dry on the walls in the 2nd bedroom, then got showered and went to the pub, most productive day...👍👍😘

Talked my friend first time in a while

My lovely neighbour gave me a beautiful bunch of flowers 💐

My grandson came and stopped with me for the morning

Had coffee brought to me in bed.

I had a walk in the sunshine and a swim in the pool, 2 favourite things.

Reconnected with an old friend of many years that had moved away. She's coming to visit. Very exciting.

Wrote with an international writing group on Zoom.

Had a cuppa with a friend

Found a TOP on special ✅👍$24.95. Down to $6

Spoke to my brother

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Iris Foundation
2 weeks ago
Iris Foundation

Change your mind with gratitude. Science has now established that our brains are much more flexible than previously thought. In part, this means we have some control over our thinking habits and the feelings they awaken within us.

One simple but effective way to shift focus from negative to positive is to consciously cultivate gratitude. Writing down three things we are grateful for each day - no matter how small! - connects us with our blessings and helps us draw on our strengths when times are tough.
#resilience #Hope #IrisFoundation ... See MoreSee Less

Change your mind with gratitude. Science has now established that our brains are much more flexible than previously thought. In part, this means we have some control over our thinking habits and the feelings they awaken within us. One simple but effective way to shift focus from negative to positive is to consciously cultivate gratitude. Writing down three things we are grateful for each day - no matter how small! - connects us with our blessings and helps us draw on our strengths when times are tough. #resilience #hope #irisfoundation
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Iris Foundation
3 weeks ago
Iris Foundation

Examine your old beliefs - Unhelpful beliefs about ourselves can significantly dent our mental health, life outcomes and relationships with other people. When such thoughts arise, acknowledge them and put them aside.

Like any new practice, it takes time and effort to break negative thought patterns, which may have persisted since childhood. A mental health professional may help, especially in the early months of habits evolving.
#resilience #Hope #IrisFoundation ... See MoreSee Less

Examine your old beliefs - Unhelpful beliefs about ourselves can significantly dent our mental health, life outcomes and relationships with other people. When such thoughts arise, acknowledge them and put them aside. Like any new practice, it takes time and effort to break negative thought patterns, which may have persisted since childhood. A mental health professional may help, especially in the early months of habits evolving. #resilience #hope #irisfoundation
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Iris Foundation
3 weeks ago
Iris Foundation

Trivia Night Fundraiser- hope you can join us💜 ... See MoreSee Less

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Elle Jay we are going???

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