Dear young ones,
Today, I want to tell you a little story, not about superheroes or fairy tales, but about something that each one of us has, our mind.
Our minds are like a garden. In this garden, we grow thoughts like flowers, some of them may be happy, some silly and some a little sad.
And just like a real garden, our minds also need care. It needs sunlight, water, love, and sometimes, someone to help pull out the weeds.
Some days, our garden may be full of sunshine. We will laugh with our friends, play games, learn cool stuff at school, and everything will feel right.
But then, there are also days when dark clouds roll in. We may feel lonely, scared, angry, or just… off. And that’s okay. Even the strongest gardens have rainy days.
You see, that is what we call mental health, which means how we think, feel and handle things.
Just like how we take care of our garden by pulling out weeds, spraying water on flowers and all that, we must also take care of our minds.
And how do we do that?
- Talk about your feelings. If something is bothering you, don’t keep it inside. Talk to a teacher, a parent, a friend, even your pet if no one else is around! Words are like watering your garden.
- Take breaks. It’s okay to rest. You don’t have to be busy all the time. Reading, coloring, and playing helps your mind stay happy.
- Be kind to yourself. Don’t call yourself names or say, “I’m not good enough.” You are learning,You are growing and You are more than enough.
- Help others. When you make someone smile, it’s like planting a flower in their garden and yours too.
- Ask for help when you need it. Brave kids are not the ones who never cry, they’re the ones who know when to ask for help.
Remember this: your feelings are not bad or wrong.
Those feelings are like messages from your mind, they are asking you to listen and care. And there are always people around who care about you.
So let’s promise each other that we will take care of our mental health and help others take care of theirs too. Your mind matters and you matter.
Written with love and care By Chemutai Naomi.