Meaning in Silence
How hard will this be? How do I prepare for it? These are some of the questions that are going through my mind right now.
A few months ago I participated in another fundraising event, to help with cancer research and mental health issues, which saw me (and other 999 participants) climbing 28 floors of a building loaded with 25kg of gear. Looking back now, that seems a lot easier than 20 Hours for 20Talk will be. Preparation was very tangible and the challenge itself took less than 10 minutes to complete.
For the 20 Hours for 20Talk challenge, I'm now faced with the prospect of spending 20 hours within a 2 square-meter area, by myself, in silence and with only my thoughts to make me company. No electronic devices, no books, no games, no distractions. Can I do it?
The only thing I can take with me is a journal and a pen. But I'm not a big writer and what would I write about? After reading a few suggestions I decided to ask for your help. Those who support me in this challenge with a donation, can ask me a question, any question, and I'll answer it during the 20 hours of the challenge. If you ever wanted to ask me a question and never did it, that’s your chance! ;)
If you already asked me everything you wanted to know, that's ok. You can still donate to get me quiet and away for a day :D
Send me your question as a message in the donation page or, if you prefer, send me it in private via email, SMS, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, etc. I'll answer that question in ink (or graphite) during my challenge and will snail-mail that letter to you afterwards (will get details later) or deliver it in person, if possible. You must send me your donation and message before Dec 5th, though, since I'll be disconnected during the challenge and will have to write them down in my journal beforehand.
Thank you!
André
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Quão difícil será esse desafio? Como me preparo para isso? Estas são algumas das perguntas que estão passando pela minha cabeça neste momento.
Há alguns meses, participei de outro evento beneficente para ajudar na pesquisa sobre o câncer e em questões de saúde mental, que consistia em eu (e outros 999 participantes) subir 28 andares de um edifício carregado com 25kg de equipamento. Olhando para trás agora, isso parece muito mais fácil do que serão as “20 Hours for 20Talk”. A preparação foi muito tangível e o desafio em si demorou menos de 10 minutos a ser concluído.
Para o desafio “20 Hours for 20Talk”, estou agora confrontado com a perspetiva de passar 20 horas numa área de 2 metros quadrados, sozinho, em silêncio, apenas com os meus pensamentos para me fazerem companhia. Sem dispositivos eletrónicos, sem livros, sem jogos, sem distrações. Conseguirei?
A única coisa que posso levar comigo é um diário e uma caneta. Mas eu não sou um grande escritor e sobre o que escreveria? Depois de ler algumas sugestões, decidi pedir a ajuda de vocês para isso. Aqueles que me apoiarem neste desafio com uma doação, poderão me fazer uma pergunta, qualquer pergunta, que responderei durante as 20 horas do desafio. Se alguma vez quiseram me perguntar algo e não o fizeram, agora é a hora! ;)
Se não quiserem fazer uma pergunta, tudo bem. Podem, ainda assim, doar para me manter calado e afastado por um dia :D
Podem me enviar a pergunta como mensagem na página de doação ou, se preferirem, em privado via email, SMS, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, etc. Responderei a essa pergunta em papel e tinta (ou grafite) durante o meu desafio e depois vou enviar por correio (obterei detalhes mais tarde) ou entregar pessoalmente, se possível. A mensagem (e doação) precisam ser enviadas antes de 5 de dezembro, no entanto, uma vez que estarei desligado durante o desafio e terei de as escrever no meu diário de antemão.
Obrigado!
André
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In order to raise funds for mental health charity 20Talk, I'm going to take on the challenge of sitting in a 2 metre square box for 20 hours with no technology and no talking. This challenge will be a small look into the day of someone struggling with mental health. All I will have is my own thoughts, a journal and a chair to sit on.
So why am I doing this?
We have all been touched in some way or another by the reality of mental health. It can be dark, lonely, and confronting.
Structurally, the statistics are still alarming..
- Suicide still remains the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-44.
- Only 2% of mental health funding goes towards prevention (Mental Health Commission 2022)
I'm completing the 20 Hours for 20Talk to turn these statistics around. Your contribution goes towards 20Talk's relatable prevention campaigns. They are a mental health charity that makes education cool and accessible, for young people by young people.
Your generous donations go towards:
- Every $120 puts a young person through a one day Mental Health Maintenance cours
- Expanding 20Talk's online resources and 60,000+ social media community
- Running large-scale interactive mental health events
By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional help-seeking we are preventing people from getting people into crisis in the first place.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and for donating to the cause. Hopefully this small challenge can help change someone’s life.
If you ever need to chat, I’m always here. Love you all and thanks again!
