Dear

Valentine's Day and Relationships 

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow! Most commonly known as the day of hearts, the day of love, the day to celebrate relationships. It’s a day that traditionally allows us to pause and consider our relationships. However, it also provides us a reminder to check in on all our social connections and the strong link they have to our happiness (Diener & Seligman, 2002). The various different relationships in our lives matter, and they have a profound effect on our Health and Wellbeing.

How do relationships impact our mental health?

Satisfying social connections also allows us to cope more effectively with stress and supports our immune system, helping us fight off infections more effectively (Breines, 2014). At a hormone level, experiencing close social interactions secretes oxytocin which supports your brain’s serotonin (the ‘feel good’ hormone) decreasing those feelings of anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms.

Have you checked in this week?

Across this week, it is a timely reminder for us all to check in on those relationships we have in our lives; professional networks, online contacts, close friends, family and significant others that we may have neglected, or those that need nurturing.

Sometimes those close connections don’t get the attention they deserve. They take a backseat in our lives because we are time poor or the ‘to do list’ is too long and gets in the way of us being in the moment. These are the social connections that nurture our souls and play an essential role in our happiness (Demir, Simesk & Procsal, 2012). They deserve our full attention and to be maintained; anything less and it can have an effect on our happiness.

Here are some ways to get physiological benefits from our relationships:

1. Conversation – reach out to reconnect with an old friend.
2. Give or receive a hug.
3. Be around other people – get out and about.
4. Do something kind for a friend.
5. Cheer for your favourite sports team – engage with others in a common cause.
6. Cuddle or pat your pet.

- Written by Health & Wellbeing Education Teacher, Nic Dorrington 

Meet the Team - Linda Malone 

Meet Linda Malone, PLC's new Head of Service and Community Partnerships. We asked Linda a few questions to get to know her better.

Prior to joining PLC, Linda has worked in not-for-profit organisations for many years; UnitingCare West being one of them, where she worked with vulnerable clients, helping them find a sense of belonging.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love reading books and spending time with friends and family.

I have been in one book club for over 14 years with the same group of six women. I am not sure we talk about the books much anymore but the get togethers really are a big part of my wellbeing. Last week, six neighbors who are also great friends, started another book club! The ‘rule’ is reading books that could be turned into movies or tv shows.

When my two grown children moved out I asked them to pick a day that I could have a meal with them each week, so Sunday dinners have become a tradition. It doesn’t matter if they come alone or with all their mates, but Sunday afternoons are precious to me.

What would you like to achieve at PLC this year?

By the end of 2019, I have three main aims:

1. To be able to reflect on the year and say I have done my best to support the School Captains achieve their leadership objectives.
2. To have a clear strategic pathway for Service that aligns with PLC’s strategic plan.
3. To find ways for the community to utilise the PLC Lighthouse spaces.

Lighthouse Co-Curricular Activities

Lighthouse App of the Month: Happify