From Shelly Pick, Director of Counseling

I love spring so much. It makes my heart happy to see trees blooming, and I get to do one of my favorite things…PLANT FLOWERS! Seeing the spring resurgence of plants and trees reminds me of the beauty of Christ rising from the dead out of love for us, His children.

I want to talk about something that is near and dear to my heart. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Let’s face it, our lives can be stressful, and we all have our ups and downs. When we struggle with our mental health we can’t be all that we want to be. At school, we do our best to help our students understand they CAN do hard things EVEN THOUGH they feel anxious or stressed. Stress can affect the body in a variety of ways, and we stress to our students the importance of having healthy habits and doing their best to stay positive and optimistic.

To pump up your optimism, or that of your student, write about your future goals and dreams. Writing will help make what you are putting on paper to be more real. Set aside time to envision the positive outcomes of what you want to do. This can be very powerful especially if you are working through a challenging situation. Find silver linings. Ask yourself what you have learned from situations and think about the new skills you have developed. Practice gratitude and stop to smell the roses and do whatever you can to soak up the best aspects of your life.

One activity I like to do with students is to take some Post-it notes and write things on them that remind them of all of the positives in their lives, and then I ask them to put them in a place where they can be seen every day. The bathroom mirror is a great place to put them. I give students their first note and on it I write, “I LOVE YOU!”

To stay positive also means that we cannot allow ourselves to fall victim to all of the “downers” in our lives. Focusing on the negative will keep us negative. To break away from negative thinking ask yourself if the issue is really worth your energy. Tell yourself that you’ll worry about it at a specific time, later.

Chances are you will feel better by the appointed time. And, instead of spinning your wheels, try a concrete, problem-solving exercise.

Let’s not forget about the importance of staying connected with others, eating well, getting enough sleep, and volunteering. All of these things are great ways to show yourself how much you really do matter. Please remember that getting professional help shows strength. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988.