Mayor proclaims ‘Never Give Up Day’ as part of global positivity movement

“It’s about resilience more than anything. I think of people going through health journeys, and the ability we have to define ourselves beyond our circumstances, or physical and mental limitations,” he says.

“‘I have a friend named Harold Barnes who lives in extended care, and he’s got a very debilitating condition, but his spirit and resilience is what’s really enabled me to never give up. It’s important for all of us to value and touch base with that resilience in people so that we can then say ‘I can push and define myself in a better way, and achieve to the best of my abilities.'”

The last two-plus years, Johnston adds, have allowed us to bear witness to many manifestations of people surpassing what they thought were their physical and mental capabilities.

“So many of us were burdened with the mental health challenges of the pandemic, wondering what it would take to get back to normal and what we could do as individuals, Agencies adapted, as did businesses, care centres, the health system, and the education system,” he says. “I can confidently say that I had many brushes, let alone my own personal experiences, over the last two years.

“There was lots of questioning hope, but you saw people dedicate themselves to maximizing who they can be even in the toughest of circumstances. How can you not be uplifted by that?”

Other Canadian cities to have proclaimed Never Give Up Day include Brampton, Burlington, Strathcona County, Niagara Falls, Newmarket, Victoria, Welland, Saanich, Regina, Halifax and Belleville.

According to nevergiveupday.com, the 10 best things to do on Never Give Up Day include…

(NeverGiveUpDay.com)

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Mayor proclaims ‘Never Give Up Day’ as part of global positivity movement

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