Sawubona is an isiZulu greeting, equivalent to Hello or Namaste. Literally translated as “I see you”, sawubona is more than a polite greeting. Sawubona says: “I respect you, I value you, you are important to me”. It is a recognition of the worth and dignity of the person you are greeting. Grammatically, sawubona is plural, […]
A sense of social connection is one of our fundamental human needs.. Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment. We are hardwired to connect with others. It’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it […]
A Sense of Belonging Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us. Because this yearning is so primal, we often try to acquire it by fitting in and by seeking approval, which are not only hollow substitutes for belonging, but often barriers to it. Because true belonging only happens […]
We can develop and improve our resilience. As with developing muscles, increasing resilience is a process that takes time and intentional practice. Develop self-awareness The first step in building resilience is self-awareness. Self-awareness refers to being able to recognise and understand our emotions, personal preferences, values, strengths and weaknesses. It is a realistic and balanced […]
Getting those butterflies to fly in formation Standing on the beach, at the start of my very first half ironman; mouth dry, pulse raising, stomach a flutter; my sister vocalised precisely what I was feeling. She turned to me and said: “My butterflies are flying way out of formation”. I have since discovered that this […]
On 11th March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO), declared the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. Hong Kong (HK) reported their first case of COVID-19 on 23rd January 2020 and since then widespread measures have been introduced to reduce the spread of the virus: social distancing, compulsory mask wearing, cross-border […]
discombobulated /ˌdiskəmˈbäbyəˌlādəd/ adjective 1. confused and disconcerted. This word was apparently first recorded in the early 1800s, ostensibly originating as playful rootless take on the hifalutin-sounding Latin words, conveying a sense of confusion. Perhaps this is what makes this word work so well to explain that feeling of being without bearings, the word itself is […]
Pleased to have had an interview with Kate Whitehead of South China Morning Post newspaper regarding my peer-reviewed article on the psychosocial consequences of mandatory quarantine in Hong Kong. Please see link below: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3144108/how-21-day-coronavirus-quarantine-damages-mental-health?module=lead_hero_story&pgtype=homepage
PERSPECTIVE noun a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view. Similar to: outlook, view, viewpoint, point of view, standpoint, position It wasn’t until I saw a tattoo with the word PERSPECTIVE inked onto my nephew’s arm that I really gave the word much thought. But it resonated with me so […]
Blaine, J., (2021). Exploring the Psychosocial Consequences of Mandatory Quarantine During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 96-103. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20211002.13 Blaine, J., & Akhurst, J. (2021). Quantifying the psychosocial outcomes of outdoor adventure education for adolescent learners in a South African setting. South African Journal of […]