Thread by @FreedomFriesInc

(1) Thread: Public figures and mental health.

I'm glad Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from this event and of course I hope she gets the help she needs.

Prior to this announcement a lot of people were angry with her, including me.

https://twitter.com/naomiosaka/status/1399422304854188037

(2) IMO this unfortunate saga would not have happened if her manager (who she employs) had given her better advice & arranged for an excellent sports psychologist to work with her. Now, it may turn out that her manager did do this, we'll see. I can only work from what is public.

(3) As someone who has PTSD myself, I believe I understand the kind of issues at stake here. I welcome the increased focus on mental health issues throughout society we've all seen of late. I detest it when people fake it or publicly blame others who can't defend themselves.

(4) Naomi Osaka appeared to prefer breaking the rules of the tournament that she would have contractually signed up to, in order to make a political point.

This is one of the fastest ways to destroy your reputation.

Things like this are even more potent during a pandemic.

(5) I hope that other public figures around the world who may have been born since around 1980 take note.

Someone coined the term ME-lennial. Kids, we don't judge you all, and certainly never for things you can't change about yourself.

We judge ourselves & others by actions.

(6) If being raised primarily by screen time has left you ill-equipped to navigate the world as a public figure, please accept the help freely offered by your elders (or others who have figured out #adulting.)

This isn't about left vs right. It's about #ActiveListening.

(7) The best advice I can give you is to cultivate the skill of active listening. Learn to avoid listening while preparing the next thing you are going to say. Really listen.

Put down the device, and show the other person you respect him or her enough to "listen to understand."

(8) We have a choice. We can either learn by our mistakes, or learn from the mistakes of others.

If we don't learn, life has a way of repeating the lesson until we do.

There is a time to protest, and a time to wait and think smart.

(9) Protesting by breaking the rules is a big step to take, and often it can blow up in your face in ways that can't be repaired.

Think about why we have rules. And how the world would be if no one bought into a rules-based world anymore.

It has happened before in history.

(10) It's no use whining "but he started it!" In the real world, nobody cares. We care about the rule-breaking we can clearly see in front of us. Increasingly, the public care about evidence & the credibility of it.

I know it doesn't appear that way, but many of us now see it.

(11) IMO it's good that more people are talking positively about mental health, from celebs and athletes to your next door neighbor.

Those who have great wealth and power esp. need to stop and think before they humiliate themselves complaining about things they CAN change.

(12) Most of us can't change the things in our lives that the wealthy and powerful can. The pandemic virus and the effects of response measures are clear and present dangers to us all.

Esp. those with pre-existing needs, whether they are health, income, ability, location etc.

(13) I've had personal & professional experiences for decades that taught me to show empathy for others & to prioritize what's really important in life.

I guarantee you there are people in your community that you could be helping as we work on getting through this pandemic.

(14) Don't be a Naomi or a Harry or a Meghan. Get the help you need in private, carefully plan your public statements about mental health so they do more good than harm, and work on becoming a "servant leader."

Signed

Your Gen-X Aunty HW.💃