Minutes:
The Chair gave the following communications:
“Since my last communication I have been honoured to continue to act as an ambassador of the district within our towns and villages and across Kent. I take my role very seriously and try to say yes to every engagement because I relish any opportunity to tell people about this beautiful district that I love. But also I want to help to fundraise by way of my contributions to the many well-deserving charities that the mayors support.
Last month, I had been feeling rather off for a couple of days but I was loathe to renege on any promises that I had already made and therefore carried on my week as usual filling it with work, family life as a single mother, my roles as both a district and town councillor, my work as a charity owner and my engagements as chair of the district council and deputy mayor of Folkestone. It came to the end of the week and I was in attendance at an evening engagement in Faversham. I was feeling lethargic and had a persistent and pounding headache. I tried to carry on as usual but everyone kept on telling me, in of course, the kindest and most compassionate way they could, that I did not look good! In fact I looked unwell and should go home and rest. They were of course right! I went home early that night and then stayed in bed for two weeks recovering. Yes, it was that bad and yes, I was that ill. In that time I had to cancel several engagements and I also missed the last full council, Thank you to my vice-chair Cllr Jones for covering for me. I was told that you did exceptionally well and I am excited about what you will achieve next year in this role.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I may not be physically active but when it comes to mental agility and sheer volume of work including meetings and engagements I am at least the equivalent of an Olympic triple gold medalist. But as Audre Lorde said "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."
I am the sum of all my thoughts deeds and actions but the physical manifestation of who I am exists within this body. Without this body I cease to exist so it is essential that I preserve and I indulge it in not only activities that help the world external to my body but also activities that help me as a individual, nurture me and my physical, mental and spiritual needs. Because without this body I would not be able to do any of the things listed above.
It is essential that we do not lose sight of our health in pursuit of action and fear of missing out. There will aways be another day, there will always be new things to do but there will never ever, in the full entirety of the universe ever be anybody like you again. I am now learning to say no, on occasion, and I hope you too can find new ways to say no that mean a yes for your health. This was not part of what I originally wrote, but on my way here, I witnessed a traffic accident. I was overwhelmed by the number of people standing around the elderly woman, talking to her, reassuring her, and redirecting traffic the traffic. That is the sort of people we have in Folkestone, and I am proud of this. Whether you are in this chamber or watching at home, take care of yourself as you are very precious”.