“I’ll put the kettle on..”
How often have we received that response having asked for some help? How often have we put the kettle on for someone in our lives when they have been struggling, ‘a bit down,’ in crisis?
Culturally we love tea, teatime, tea and biscuits, and of course, coffee. There are increasing numbers of gourmet teas and skilled baristas that take our hot drink consumption to a new level, and yes, the hot drink itself can be a comfort.
But what is the real comfort here? It is being listened to, being heard, taking time to sit with your problem whilst being supported to do so. And it is the meaning and purpose it gives us to help another person we see struggling. It is such a basic human instinct, to ask “what’s wrong?” and to make time to listen to the answer. No one needs professional training to spend time listening and helping. We could argue putting the kettle on gives us a distraction and a reason to spend a little time with another person, connecting properly.
Today has become known to some as ‘Blue Monday’ as it can be seen as the most depressing day of the year, and particularly this year we don’t need to spell out why. The Samaritans have launched an idea for ‘Brew Monday’ to change this story and encourage people to meet up virtually. It doesn’t have to be tea, or indeed Monday, but maybe we can all reach out to ‘put the kettle on’ for someone we know.
