Hi there ,

Hope you are doing well and staying safe! :)

The EMCO imposed in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have, yet again, created a lot of problems for the people in these areas. If you are one of the many, many out there who is affected, I do hope that you are doing OK and that your family and loved ones are doing good too.

I strongly feel sorry for our students in schools and universities around Malaysia who will still have to cope with online learning for God knows how much longer - they're missing out on the formative years of their childhood, of socializing with friends and learning to communicate effectively with others.

Get help, or help others if you can.

It's a hard time for all, no matter who you are. We are all suffering in one way or another, be it with our work, our studies, our livelihoods, or our mental and/or physical health.

If you are struggling, in whatever shape or form, please do reach out. My inbox is always open, and there are a lot of people out there who are willing to help out as well.

And if you are in a position that you are able to lend a helping hand, either financially or physically, please do spare some time or money to support others around you. There are many resources out there, like the KitaJaga or SambalSOS websites, or the Caremongering Facebook group, for you to utilize and help others in your community.

I personally like to go through established NGOs, like Happy Bank Crew or Hunger Hurts, just because they usually know the communities better and have a proper team to vet the applications and ensure that all donations are sent to the right people.

Make sure you also think about yourself.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if you go on the KitaJaga or SambalSos websites, as you can see that there are A LOT of people out there needing help. If you're like me, you might feel disheartened or guilty for not being able to help as many people out there as you would like.

This is a reminder, to myself and to you as well, to not hold yourself accountable. You are not required to help every single person out there. As much as you would like to make sure everyone around you is safe and have their needs taken care of, please do not push yourself too much or force yourself to help more than what is within your capability. There is only so much we can do as individuals, and it should not fall on us to ensure that everyone is taken care of.

Do not blame yourself for putting yourself first. Remember, always fill your own cup before you try to fill others'. Put on your own oxygen mask before you attend to other people. You are more than allowed to focus on making sure you are well, physically and mentally, before you help other people. After all, It can be mentally draining to constantly think about and assist others, so make sure you take the time for yourself!

p/s: if you are struggling and would like to talk to someone, I've recently had a good experience with Aloe Mind. They offer mental health screening and therapy sessions if you're looking to get professional help!

Take some time to relax and de-stress.

Earlier this year, I met with a fun and amazing group of friends from Clubhouse. They have been my source of light and warmth during this challenging time, as we often organize GMeets and virtual game nights to replace the physical socializing that we all desperately need.

We recently started this OnlyFriends initiative (yes, it's a play on word from OnlyFans :p), and we are fundraising for a few charities by offering the time and space for you to meet and hang out with people online.

Last weekend, we hosted two game nights, in which we all came together to play various online games for a few hours. We had Cards against Humanity, Jackbox Party, Skribbl, Gartic Phone, and many more. And, Alhamdulillah, despite only putting a goal of RM1,000 per week (for a total of RM4,000 in a month), we managed to raise RM2,209.

This upcoming weekend, we will be hosting movie nights, where we will host four different sessions (horror, romantic comedy, Malay, and RuPaul's drag race). Please do check the Instagram page out and sign up to join the movie night and/or to donate! :)

p/s: One of our upcoming events will be a 'Rent a Bestie' night, where you can 'rent' a person to rant to about stuff (be it politics, government, family, studies, work, etc). :)

Last one for the day - a free webinar tomorrow!

Before I sign off, I just wanted to share an opportunity with you. I will be organizing a free webinar tomorrow (Tuesday, 13 July) on the ABZ of Career Planning. It's free and open to all, although it is catered towards university students and/or fresh graduates. You can register here if you would like to attend.

If you are interested to join or know anyone who might benefit from it, please do share the words out with them. It will also be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube, so you can always watch it on social media! :)

That's all for now - I'll see you again in the next email. But, until then, feel free to reach out to me via email if you have anything to share, or if you would just like to rant! :)

Take care, stay safe, and stay awesome everyone!

Love,

Nazu xx