From the Wellbeing Desk of Marg Mackay – Rural Aid Counsellor
There are so many stories, untold or unheard, among our farming communities due to natural disasters along with the isolation of living on a farm. It is through the telling of our stories that we build connections and support. It was a reminder about special libraries in Denmark where you can borrow a person instead of a book. It is titled “The Human Library” and the idea is to listen to that person’s story for 30 minutes.
The idea is to enable people to fight against prejudices and to take the time to listen to each other. Each person has a title – “unemployed,” “refugee,” bipolar,” etc, but by listening to another person’s story, you realize how much you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. but instead take the time to walk in another person’s shoes. This project is happening in over 50 countries around the world.
It shows that when we listen to the stories of others, we can both benefit. This seems particularly relevant in our current Covid circumstances. People, including the young are yearning to be heard. “They have so much going on in their life and head, that everyone who is willing to just sit and listen to them is like their saviour” (Lidiya Kesarovska, from Let’s Reach Success).
Over the past two years disasters and Covid have led to the fracturing of these connections. At the same time, concern about mental health and wellbeing have skyrocketed, especially among rural communities. At Rural Aid our aim is to create connections with rural communities where people can have their stories told in a safe and confidential manner on the farm. This is so important during these difficult times of lock downs, home schooling and everyday struggles on the farm. Sharing stories with a rural aid counsellor helps to process and understand what you are experiencing in ways that you may not have thought of and build new supportive connections.
Like the saying by Catherine McAuley, “Never see a need without doing something about it”, Rural Aid has extended its free counselling service to cover all states in Australia due to the need. Please feel free to reach out to our highly trained counsellors to support you or a member of your family on their journey.
Marg McKay is a Rural Aid counsellor in the Wodonga area.
