A PENNY FOR THOUGHTS

With everything going on in the world, we’re creating a safe space for kids to share their thoughts and feeling. Browse through a few of the submissions we’ve received. Interested in sharing your work? Email your thoughts to therapyconciergellc@gmail.com

During these last couple of months, there have been a lot going on. From the Coronavirus to all the Black Lives Matter protests/riots. Honestly, America needs to change and end racism. There is something called white privilege, where white people get special treatment from the police EVEN if your a criminal. It’s wrong but the real problem is some people don’t know that their racist and the ones who say “ I’m not a racist” most likely are. The sad part is that if they actually looked back in their history they would see all the hurt that they have caused for POC. Their scared of US?! We are scared of THEM!! Being black is like being a stereotype but not a good one. Everyone’s talking about Blue Lives Matter ( Cops ) and All Lives Matter and they do but right now we’re talking about BLACK LIVES. Plus if you couldn’t handle being a cop or being in situations you couldn’t handle, why did you become a cop??... it makes no sense. Now for All Lives Matter. I don’t disagree but it is NOT the time to say that. Do you hear on the news about a white man suffocating and dying because a cop kneeled on his neck for 8+ minutes. NO! Do you hear about a white man sleeping in his car at a Wendy’s getting shot in his back and DYING? NO! Has a group of white kids ever been held at gun point for being white and looking suspicious? I DON’T THINK SO. This is all proof that something needs because who knows what more could happen if this goes on.

Submitted by: Kenzie age 12

I can’t breathe!
I CAN’T BREATHE OFFICER
I CAN’T BREATHE

These were the last words of a man name George Floyd
We watched about the last 20 minutes of his life
I CAN’T BREATHE
His last words...
All for NOTHING
this man could’ve lived a long life but it was cut short because of an officer who didn’t
know how to handle the situation

George Floyd was innocent... the “ counterfeit” bill that had him arrested was REAL
He didn’t have a chance
Our world is so messed up to the point that
Being Black or African American is a crime
We are automatically a THREAT to society, criminal, liar..
But for WHAT Why are people taking it out on us?
We suffered from over 400 years of slavery, BRUTAL hard work
We were SOLD like we were a toy that you could CONTROL
and for WHAT?
Racism is still a thing, I get it, but..
WHEN is it going to STOP?

submitted by: Riley age 12

Wellness Strategies for Dealing with COVID-19 and “Shelter in Place”

In light of this new normal we could all use some positive tips and tools to assist while we shelter in place. Have you noticed yourself struggling to remain focused and intentional throughout the day. For many, the days are already running together. Below are a few suggestions to help cope.

1. Keep a morning routine.

Wake up at a reasonable time, brush your teeth, shower, get dressed, and eat something. You don’t have to dress in business or fancy attire (unless it helps) but changing out of what you slept in and freshening up creates a mental change and breaks the routine from the night before.

2. Schedule tasks for each day.

Sometimes the days start to run together, unless you are intentional about how you spend your time. Working from home: Make sure to factor in a lunch break and take it! Especially if you are working with children at home. This is time for a “flexible mindset”. You may need a few more breaks but try not to extend your workday by more than 1 or 2 hours. When it’s time to “leave the office”, close the laptop and turn the work phone off. It can be so easy to overwork when you work from home. Tele-schooling: If you are home from college, an online student, or in lower grades, sticking to a set time for study and completing assignments can be helpful. I know regular brick and mortar school doesn’t work this way but it’s best to schedule learning and study time for whatever part of the day that your mind is working at it’s best. Don’t overload yourself with too much work all in one day. You can complete a little at a time if you spread it out throughout the week.

3. Get fresh air.

You only have to open your window, front door, and/or back door to get fresh air. If you are an allergy sufferer, early morning or late afternoon seems to be the best times to get fresh air.

4. Do something to better yourself.

What have you had very little time to do? Learn a language? Nap? Wood carving? Create art? Read a book? Exercise? You have a bit more time now to do this for yourself. Feed your Mind. Body. Spirit. If you are with your children, you can do many of these things while they study, do a quiet activity, or take a nap themselves.

5. Connect with others.

Some people thrive with a lot of social interaction, while others may need less amounts. It’s important to know yourself and your needs for social connection. You can use everything from Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, phone, texting, and letters through the mail. You can keep in touch with parents, friends, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. If you don’t have many people to connect with in your life, there is a solution! The world wide web has positive ways to connect with others who, like yourself, want more connection with others but just don’t have many people they may know in their personal life. Facebook (personal or professional) and LinkedIn (professional) offer hundreds, if not more, of different groups. Join a group that is focused on topics that interest you or are important to you.

6. Limit your news intake and your children’s intake.

While we want to be informed, we don’t need to meditate on this all day and night because there is only but so much that we as individuals can do and can control. Find a reputable news station and choose which news hour you will listen to. Oftentimes children are in the room while we watch television. Sometimes they tune it out but other times they pick up on what is being said, our reactions, and overhear our conversation about it. Be mindful of the amount of stressful content you and your children ingest.

Coronavirus Check In

How are you doing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? How are you adjusting to new societal norms? Things feel uncertain but it will eventually get better. Although life as we know it has changed below are a few tips to help combat cabin fever as we continue to practice social distancing.

● Establish a Routine, whether you are working from home or monitoring online school work. Schedules are essential to keeping stress levels down and maintaining a feeling of “normal”.

● Game Night/Movie Night, strengthen relationships with quality. Use technology to remove distance barriers.

● Clean House, we all spend time avoiding things we don’t enjoy doing. Use this stay at home order to get caught up on household cleaning and organizing.

● Vitamin D, we all need a daily dose of sunlight. Whether you stand on your porch, look out the window, or stand on the sidewalk. Be sure to catch the sun.

● Pinterest, endless ideas at all skill levels. Why not try a new recipe or a ten day exercise challenge. Whatever you are looking for it’s there. While these suggestions may not eliminate all feelings of boredom these tips are sure to get you active.

Mindset: Shifting Perspective

Except you lay claim to some primary psychological knowledge, there is chance that every now and then you are in a rattle with your thoughts and falling out with your own actions. If no one has ever told you that your behavior defines you more than your thoughts do, then you have been barking up the wrong trees and doing a number on your relationships.

 

What goes on in your head is likely to produce an action. That is why perspective defines your very nature; how people see you and how you address situations. Hey, shifting perspective isn’t similar to a brain swap or total medical bypassing. It is simply organizing your thoughts for you to handle situations better, and for you to lead a more meaningful life. These thoughts will manifest in what become of your life.

 

Relax

Breathing may very well be an involuntary action that even happens in your sleep. But one thing you may not realize is the power of passing breath just to cool down. Ever seen an steaming engine? Cold water or a adequate supply of chill air will get it running like a perfectionist. For the number of limited breaths you have in a lifetime, make each of them count, Taking ten of them in that dire situation or in that array of controversy will do your temper a real solid.

 

Empathize

When it seems (or even before) you are about to give in to rational thinking at the detriment of someone involved, don't just be reproachful, but empathetic. Taake smoke 30 seconds to have a walk in the person’s shoes and see how it hurts the toes. You never many the predicament of that person, and should you act according to what’s physically attainable, you may be ruffling feathers you never knew existed.

 

Be Journalistic

Ever heard of writing it down? Keeping a diary may sound outdated and near useless. But thank God to the advent of mobile apps, you don’t actually need pen and paper or have to store the journal away from sight. Alongside cool features you can use to spice up your writing, these diaries help you mostly live in the moment. When you your tension down in text, is sometimes reveals the truth behind the situation. Just like studying, you gradually will start realizing the deeper meaning of things and be able to respond better. And, never underestimate the power of words, even when written down.

 

Let Go

In as much as you are in control of your life, the universe has a bigger plan for you - something you cannot ever fight no matter how much effort you invest. You just need to have faith in the bigger picture and trust that there will be a lesson. Your purpose may elude you for now, but only for so long. One day, surely, it will all make sense, But for now, surrender and change that mindset - everything is going to turn out best. Always have positive thoughts, and let the law of attraction have its way.

Don't Forget To Laugh

Happiness is free. Even if you don't have it, at least fake it till you make it. Don’t scorch you gradually developing life into cinders with sadness and bitterness. As many as there could be reasons for an outcry, there is perhaps even much more reasons for you to not just be happy, but grateful. Whilst pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Always remember that mantra.

 

Tips for Surviving your Family this Holiday Season

Holidays are supposed to be seasons of cheer with families and friends coming together to share some love and memories.

While this is something common and fun, for some, it might just be another hard remainder of some worse days.

And for such group, depression is likely to set in – getting you over something you have dealt with over and over again.

Notwithstanding, considering that family time is a part of the season, it might be weird to find yourself being depressed while you should be lightened up around family.

Depending on settings peculiar to you, some rule of thumb that could help you stay lightened and survive your family this holiday season are:

#1. Be grateful.

While it is almost impossible to eliminate the factors of depression, you could channel your energy to be cheerful and give everyone you meet a smile.

Than dwell in the past that would neither change a thing nor make you better. You may want to see gratitude as the only validation for you to spend the holiday with family. 

In the process of being thankful, you should look for something amazing about you that you are comfortable to share. Once you share something good about yourself, you develop some sense of worthiness and self-love.

And by consistently doing that during the holiday, you will off the hook of depression.

To increase your chance of commitment to it, you can make it like a challenge. Like seven days of gratitude.

Counting our blessings helps us remain grateful to even the worse persons.

#2. Take time for you

With all the preparation for the various celebrations, it is easy to get loss in work and forget yourself.

The best way to recharge your self is to give yourself sufficient space and time away from everyone and everything.

It will help you to focus on your goal of remaining happy amidst the busyness of the season. Remember, you’re making a lifetime commitment to remain happy regardless of the circumstance.

#3. Put the family to work.

Delegate, assign tasks and put the family to work. Do not become machinery, after all, it’s a season to share in love, work together, play together and reminiscence together.

This way, they are useful and less toxic, for the ones there are.

#4. Keep it simple

Keeping your holiday expectation simple and less ideal would help you remain happy even when the holiday didn’t go as you expect.

Keeping your expectation simple would help you remain grateful rather than running round issues within yourself and trying to feel you’re the reason the holiday didn’t go well.

Do the needful and don't try to go overboard.

#5. Plan ahead of the season.

Make plans for what you need and get them.

It will help reduce the bulk of work later on.

Making plans helps give you control over yourself, and this will help you calm.

Remember to try and enjoy the holidays.

Take time for yourself. There is no crime in that. Reach out if you are feeling down.