Pera Barrett: Letters to my daughter and son that I think are worth sharing with the world. The life lessons I’ve learned and want to pass on, the cover everything from resilience, to handling stress, the New Zealand political system, happiness, productivity, grief and depression – pretty much whatever lessons life throws my way. I write them down before I forget.
Dear Huhana and Kāhu, We got back from our first whānau holiday overseas (Bali) a few weeks ago. Huhana you’re nearly five, hopefully, some of those memories stick. Kāhu, you’re eighteen months old so you’ll just have to trust me that you had fun. Firstly, travel. Once upon a time, I thought I didn’t need …
Dear Huhana and Kāhu o te Rangi, E kore au e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea. I will never be lost, for I am a seed sown in Rangiātea. I read Ruia in this whakataukī as meaning the foundation and contributing factors in a seed’s potential. That’s what this letter is about. …
Dear Huhana and Kāhu o te Rangi Yesterday, 15/3/2019 nearly a hundred people were shot in two mosques in Christchurch. So far 49 have died. Huhana, you only asked one question, what’s a gunshot wound? They were shot because of their religion and race. There’s been a lot of talk about racism not being something …
You’re lucky to have loved ones in your life. Remember that, and tell them when you do.
A lot of people you love have struggled with alcohol, I never thought I was one of them. But it’s been five months since I had a drink, and I realise now that I had never been in control of my relationship with drinking.
Not being in control of that relationship can mean different things for different people: sometimes wasted days hungover, sometimes sickness, jail, depression, sometimes death. So this is an important letter for you both.
“I don’t like funerals, I’m not very good at waiting or being quiet.” Huhana: four years old. Dear Huhana and Kāhu o te Rangi, Huhana, from about 11am – 1.30pm yesterday, you weren’t allowed to talk. We were at your Great, Great, Uncle Jim Webber’s tangi. People were paying their respects, sharing their whakaaro/thoughts or …
Letter worth sharing: A quietly kept bellow, the power of patience Read More »
And the army has to get the dragon and the dragon has to get the army and whoever climbs up the rainbow and slides down the fastest gets the golden trophy. – Huhana, four. Dear Huhana and Kāhu o te Rangi, Once upon a night, someone you know wrestled control of their life back from an …
Dear Huhana and Kāhu, I hope by the time you’re reading this, these two pictures about staying alive and healthy will be just as cool as each other. I visited a counsellor last week. I’m sure a lot of other people did too, I hope they did. But while Instagram …
Last week I saw a counsellor – Letters worth sharing Read More »
Dear Huhana and Kahu, We just got back from holidaying around Spain, Italy and Singapore. We were running around the sights in these places for a couple of weeks while you two stayed with my Mum and Dad and hung out with your cousins in Otaki. Do you know what me and your mum looked …
Dear Huhana and Kāhu, I was about eight-years-old when I realised how shy I was, how badly I got stage fright, and that I could never, ever, ever rap in front of a crowd. My legs were only a bit bigger than yours are now when I ran from my primary school library crying. I was …