LAMHE

Recently, someone described a relative’s frequent Facebook photographs as egocentric and even narcissistic. A long discussion followed. Towards the end, the same person happily mentioned that her comment had attracted the attention of many people. I could not resist pointing out the irony. Perhaps she also enjoyed public attention—only through her words rather than photographs. We both laughed, but the conversation remained with me. It made me realise that the wish to be noticed appears in many forms. One person posts photographs from parties. Another shares every professional achievement. Someone displays knowledge, someone offers strong opinions, and someone enjoys being known as the person who never seeks attention. Even criticism can bring its own spotlight. We usually recognise the desire for attention in other people because their way of seeking it is different from ours. I cannot write about this as an outsider. I post my articles, books, recipes, cooking, sarees and dressing st...

  During my years behind a microphone, I learnt that silence was something to avoid. In radio, even a few unexpected seconds of silence can make the listener wonder whether something has gone wrong. As a performer, I learnt something different: a carefully placed pause can sometimes communicate more powerfully than words. And now, as a counsellor, I have come to understand a third kind of silence—the silence of a person who has been asked, “Are you OK?” but does not yet feel safe enough to answer. That silence is rarely empty. On R U OK? Day, we encourage people to ask one another a simple and important question. This year, the day falls on Thursday, 10 September 2026. Across Australia, workplaces, schools and community organisations will turn yellow. There will be morning teas, posters, photographs and messages reminding us that a conversation can change a life. All of this matters. According to R U OK?’s 2026 Impact Tracker, nine out of ten people who were asked if they were ...