May 2022

🐰🐰 PRIORITIZE FUN       

“May then is the month, if not of fulfillment, at least of promise.” – John Henry Newman

“May, it’s full of all the things that make spring and the brighter part of the year so special. Flowers bud, the sun shines, and new seeds are sewn into the fabric of our lives. May is awesome.” – Jenna Danchuk

The only constant is change...

Just a quick note this month since the first of the month falls on our weekly writing prompt day.

We've had some beautiful weather days through the last month (interspersed with a few remnants of winter!).  How did you spend the sunny days?  As you think ahead to the summer, what plans are you making for fun and adventure?  Are there social, recreational, or physical fitness goals that you can focus your attention on?  Let's explore how to manage your time and responsibilities to prioritize the fun things in life these next few months.

Some housekeeping items:

• Has your health insurance situation changed?  Do you have behavioral health coverage that is managed by Aetna, Humana, Highmark, or Optum, or a school plan that includes TelaDoc or HealthierYou?  If so, let's talk about whether those options may offer a better benefit compared to your current services.

• Vacation:  I will be taking a few days off mid-May.  If our regularly scheduled session time will be affected, we'll talk in the next few days to reschedule to a time that works for you.  I appreciate your flexibility in accommodating the change.  I will still check and respond to messages daily. 

In case you need to speak to someone immediately,

• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.  NOTE: the new 988 line will be available in mid-July!  For more info, follow this link: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/

• Text crisis line... you can send a text to 741741 and just write HOME and someone will get right back to you.

• Trans Lifeline:  (877) 565-8860

I recommend adding these to your contacts in your phone. If you don't need them, you might be able to share them with someone who does.

• Scheduling: 

  • Spring brings warm weather and more activities on your social calendar.    I believe that family, friends, and fun are priorities in our lives, and am happy to reschedule our session times when you have something enjoyable to do (or otherwise important, like studying or a project).  Please remember to cancel or reschedule your appointments with as much advance notice as possible so that we can  reschedule and I can offer the session time to someone else.

Unique & special May holidays:   (http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/may.htm)

Some of my favorites:

• National Photograph Month

• National Salad Month

May 3    Garden Meditation Day

May 6    National Nurses Day

May 9   Lost Sock Memorial Day

May 13   Blame Someone Else Day and Friday the 13th

May 25   World Otter Day

I'm grateful to know you and I thank you for letting me be a part of your journey.  Please let me know if there is anything more I can be doing to support you.

Weekly writing prompt:

This week's prompt is:

List   the things about yourself that you don't need to change. 

Our weekly Take Action prompt to build on the list is:

Set a reminder on your phone or calendar to reread this list on this day one year from now to remember all of the ways that you do love yourself and are proud of who you are.

I'll add to that and ask you to  think about what made you your own worst critic?  Where did the scripts of negative self talk come from?  At what age did you become self critical?  If you were to set those scripts aside, what positive self talk could replace them?  What about you makes you proud and confident

Journal or write as you wish, and if you feel like sharing, I would be happy to read!  You can share in the chat box in your counseling room, or in the journal section in the app.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” ­­- Bernard Baruch

“Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ­-Christopher Robin

“When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.” -Joe Namath

We will continue with prompts from The 52 Lists for Happiness through 2022.  If you are interested in checking out the book on your own, or The 52 Lists Project which we used last year, they are written by Moorea Seal and published by Sasquatch Books.