Usha Mathapati

PYP PE Teacher and Swimming Coach

[Run Your Life Podcast @andyvasily]

In honor of mental health month, I want to recognize that mental health issues continue to be on the rise worldwide. One of the biggest barriers that gets in the way of better addressing mental health issues is the fact that many people are still afraid to come forward and share what is happening or has happened that has caused them so much emotional pain in their lives.

Making ourselves vulnerable and sharing DOES NOT mean full disclosure and being a completely open book. Making ourselves vulnerable means having the courage to share our truth. Guaranteed that when we do this, we will inspire others and give permission to at least one other person to do the same.....and the ripple effect can then gain momentum and spread outward in positive ways from there.

I only share my TED X talk once a year and it's always during Mental Health Awareness month. This was a difficult talk for me to give. To be honest, I didn't want to do it and almost pulled the plug on it, but I felt a push to follow through and do the talk. In the process, not only did I learn a lot about myself, I also honored my two brothers whose lives were cut short due to mental health issues.

My brother Kent was a gifted musician and woodworker who was amazing at what he did. He had incredible talent but succumbed to drug addiction that ultimately cost him his life. My brother Chris suffered from severe depression that was so bad he committed suicide in 2013. Although these deaths will be with me for life and leave me grappling with lots of questions/emotions, I'm not the only one who has gone through such tragedy in life.

As a result of my lived experiences, much of my work and life now revolves around raising awareness about the importance of mental, social, physical and emotional well-being and helping others to identify the barriers that get in the way of living life with more fulfillment, purpose and productivity.

If you have read this far, thank you for your time and energy. I hope that you feel supported in your own journey of life and, if you are struggling at times, you find the right people to lean on to get through it. If you are thriving in your life and truly flourishing, keep doing whatever you are doing to stay on that path. Love and peace to you all.

Special thanks to many influential people I've come across that continue to do amazing work in the field of mental health, wellness and productivity.

@michaelgervais @SharonSalzberg @gtmumford @todd_herman @drhelenstreet @DanielPink @CarBombBoom13 @thom_curran @janineshepherd

https://t.co/msGinAcN1t

[ella @misswestons]

Teachers! You need this for your classroom desk!!

[S Sharma @SSharSadh]

@HardeepSPuri Sir, if we had #AirBubbleWithChina we would have been back in China now. The last 10 months went this way, the next 10 doesn’t have to be the same. @China_Amb_India @zlj517 Sir, please #revokevisaban #revoketheban 🙏

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

https://t.co/7E2zJSfiqu

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

@mrbholladay @ramshree_school @EarlyWorldIndia @travelogy @iFeelIndia We eat Indian sweets, yummy Indian dishes, wear new cloth and exchange gifts 😊😊😊

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

Great artwork by… https://t.co/dM1H3AQ3sr

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

https://t.co/xfq4YRYuvH

[Mr. McDonah @PatrickMcDonah]

1st #pyp sports day was a fantastic success. Thank you #swisrocs #community and thank you to #grade1 for this amazing poster

[Mr. McDonah @PatrickMcDonah]

@mr_leonard_SWIS Had an amazing day with the students. Thank ou to the whole SWIS community for helping with such a successful day. @mr_leonard_SWIS @RingroseBradley @ntopovic @carter_geoff @Mathapat29 @N_L_Campbell @Renerenzy #swisrocs

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

Congratulations to all SWIS swimmers. Once again swis swimmers earned 2 trophies #SWISroc #pypchat #ibpyp

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

@DanEdwardes amazing warmup ideas, with pair work,partner drill..ect. #APPEC17

[Louise Cullen @louise_cullen]

Wow - first dress rehearsal of ‘Suessical the Musical’ at Shen Wai International School. Our #PYP students have talent! Congratulations all.

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

@Concordian The pool look great😊😊

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

Congratulations to all SWIS swimmers for earning two trophies in PRC swim meet@swis_shenzhen well done swimmers #SWISroc

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

Will go back with heaps of knowledge.Thank you #appec17 for organising amazing conference. Looking forward for the next one.....

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

@MrHairPhysEd Great presentation #appec17

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

@SWIS_Shenzhen #swis swim team working on stroke development in early morning session

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

Congratulations to All SWIS swimmers for earning 27medals@SWIS_Shenzhen

[Usha Mathapati @Mathapat29]

First SWIS swim meet..😊😊well done swimmers👍 It was amazing to see your performance😀😀