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Discover the power of art to help you negotiate the tough times in life. Nourishing your creativity provides a powerful tool for self-care for caregivers and other stressed-out people.
This month’s Self-Care Sunday series focuses on freedom. You have the freedom to take a working vacation (but not the kind of work you may be thinking about). Freedom to Feel Exhausted “I’m exhausted!” Pedro exclaimed as he sank on to the couch next to me. The sun streamed through the window in Louis and Laura’s back door. Louis hung a blanket over the window to keep the light from blinding us as we relaxed after a hard day’s work.…
This month has five Sundays, which means this week’s Self-Care Sunday will focus on art. And freedom. Sheds, Crackers, and Art As a teacher, I have the freedom for eight weeks to go on adventures—at times, academic, at other times artistic or physical. Part of my summer vacation adventure this year includes spending time with the entire family—including my parents. By Friday of last week, everyone had arrived in Wasilla, and our artistic adventure could begin. The adventure? Build a…
One important aspect of self-care lies in our responsibility to continue to develop our intellect beyond the four walls of the classroom. Wheels of Freedom I remember my first bicycle—a shiny green Huffy with a saddle seat and coaster brakes. The back wheel had a set of smaller training wheels attached. I eventually learned to ride by myself (thanks, Mom and Dad), and experienced new freedom. I cut pieces of cardboard and attached them to the bike frame with a…
This month, the Self-Care Sunday series will focus on freedom. Join me each Sunday as I show how self-care can bring you freedom. The Negative Effects of Worry Worry wrapped its sticky fingers around me, threatening to pull me under a wave of despair. Big worries—my husband’s health, the mountain of debt built by cancer—that loomed giant and threatening. Small worries—what to fix for supper, grading papers, the girl at school who seemed depressed—that nagged like mosquitos on a hot…
Vacation Hangry We’ve all had a case of hangry during vacations. Routines get disrupted, no one can agree on where or what to eat, and a case of hangry breaks out. We learn to carry snacks and plan ahead more, because nothing ruins a good time more than a car full of hangry people. But have you ever considered what happens when you skip your spiritual routines while on vacation? At home, I love spending a quiet hour studying my…
This week’s weeks installment of Self-Care Sunday continues this month’s theme of vacation. You’ll want to make sure you take these essentials on your next day hike. I learned from my Dad the importance of survival skills before I even started school. Thanks, Dad! Survival Skills “I think we need to cook them just a little bit longer,” my dad said, looking dubiously into the frying pan. We giggled. “It smells like chicken,” he assured us. We nodded. I piped…
In this week’s edition of Self-Care Sunday, I’ll address the Christian’s response to mental Illness. Mental Illness is NOT a Spiritual Problem Depression. Anxiety. Schizophrenia. Bipolar Disorder. Alzheimer’s. Anorexia. Binge Eating. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The list goes on. Physicians and mental health experts have classified over 200 forms of mental illness. It stands to reason that someone you know has a mental illness. That illness may or may not be diagnosed. If you suffer from a mental illness, and feel…
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this week’s episode of Self-Care Sunday will focus on some of the physical aspects of dealing with a mood disorder. You DON’T need to have a mood disorder to appreciate the advice that Sarah shares about self-care! If you have a family member or friend who suffers from a mood disorder (depression, bipolar, anxiety, etc.), read this to find out what it feels like to suffer from the sufferer’s perspective. Maintaining Balance When…
.May is Mental Health Awareness Month. For this week’s edition of Self-Care Sunday, I thought I would reprint a post that first appeared on Blessed (but Stressed). Head knowledge helps us understand and change our heart attitudes. Many of you have contacted me and told me how difficult it is to explain to family members why a person with a mental illness can’t just ‘Pray and get over it.’ This book acts as a manual and provides a valuable resource…
