Inspire me
Doing good does you good! Christina Toimela gets inspired by people with a positive can-do attitude
Saturday afternoon: cake and latte time. Once again I have managed to avoid being blown into the sea whilst doing my brisk 5k run towards Saltdean and back. I’m dreaming of warmth and homely atmosphere whilst skipping towards my local café. There I get lost in the different shapes and colours of cupcakes, biscuits and tarts. I almost forget that I have one more job to do before I’m allowed my Saturday treat; I should ask if I may put up my last charity poster.
I’m asked to have a look at the postcards at the cafeteria’s window ledge instead. “It’s all free,” says one of the ladies, pointing out that my poster aims to sell raffle tickets. I recognise the postcards. They are for ‘Close the GAP Day’ on 13 November. I tell the lady that I’m planning to interview Barbara Mariposa, the person behind it, because I think she could be an inspiration. The lady laughs and says, “What a lovely coincidence. It’s me!”
One week later we sit down together and I start interviewing Barbara:
What does GAP stand for? “GAP is the gap between people and societies,” she replies.
G stands for GIVING. You can be generous by giving money to charity or just by giving an orange to someone.
A stands for APPRECIATING. Say thank you or anything that shows your interest in other people.
P stands for PARTICIPATING. People who participate, have a large social network and make the effort to reach out to others, have better health. Barbara Mariposa chose ‘Close the GAP Day’ as a community project when studying at Landmark Education. The virtual event is not about shiny, happy people or being positive. It’s about your health. No matter how low you may feel there is always someone out there you can be kind to. We have the power and the ability to determine our own health by our actions, attitudes, beliefs and thoughts. Kindness makes people feel better.
Helping is healthy
Barbara Mariposa, a trained doctor, now works as a well-being coach and acupuncturist. She has always been curious to know what keeps people well and how some people seem to always bounce back. Her answer is that compassionate people feel better.
We are living in our bubbles as individuals. Many stress related illnesses, depression and anxiety arise from isolation. Statistics predict that by 2020 depression and anxiety will be the second largest cause of ill health in the UK. Barbara has managed to help herself recover from depression and mental illness so that she does not need any medication. She wants people to know that they are not victims. We all have the power to enhance our own health through our actions, thoughts and behaviour.
When we take part in acts of kindness we change the way our brain works. We also release endorphins like serotonin and oxytocin. Serotonin alters our mood and keeps us calm. Oxytocin boosts our immune system, has a calming effect and makes people feel more connected to one another. Even if you are not feeling good you can help yourself, as well as others, by shifting your focus outwards instead of inwards. You are getting this cascade of hormonal rewards that help you change the wiring in your head that has kept you depressed.
cool to be kind
Even if you don’t feel like it, say thank you to somebody, those two little words could make someone’s day. Even if you don’t feel like smiling and you do, someone else will see it and smile too. Even the smallest act of kindness is contagious.
‘Close the GAP’ takes place where you are on 13 November and the virtual event spreads wherever people go. The game is to spread the word that doing good does you good.
Do you know any people who have really inspired you in Brighton?
We’re not looking for celebrities.
Not ordinary, but extraordinary.
Contact Christina: christina.toimela@gmail.com
