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Mix Up Your Routine
​with Mindful Movement
12/14/19
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Wake up, get ready, go to school, come home, do your homework, eat your dinner, go to bed. We often get stuck in a never-ending cycle feeling as if we will never get out of the same rut. Before you cut your bangs or bleach your hair (it’s always the hair; personally, I cut all my hair off every time I need something new), think of other ways you can create a change.

Here's a time I tried something new that didn't require a hairstylist to come to my rescue. 

Starting out with the permission slip, I was already intimidated.  

Have you ever practiced yoga? If so, what kind? 

Well, yes, I’ve practiced yoga. I know child’s pose, downward-facing dog, and the other basic poses, but who knew there were multiple types of yoga: anusara, ashtanga, bikram, hatha, hot yoga, and many more?!

My big change was attending my very first Mindful Movement yoga class with Mrs. Schuster after school. 

Once I was able to forget about the permission slip, I was excited to try a new way to relieve stress. Mrs. Schuster was more than thrilled for me to be there. We set out our yoga mats as she told us the basic understandings of what we were about to do. She advised us to try to keep our eyes closed while she verbally instructed us on what to do next. She stressed on the need to keep our minds clear and do whatever feels the most comfortable.

With the calming music in the background, I was able to keep my focus clear on the mind and body. 

Upon arrival, I was skeptical if the yoga class would make me feel any better, but by the time the hour was up, I was not only proud of myself for being able to try something new, but I was also pleased to be able to free my mind and relax. 

On top of the sense of pride a person can get from trying something new, one might also obtain a new hobby or passion.

So, let's say you didn’t like it. Well, at least now you know!

Trying something new refreshes your daily routine. I think getting out of a rut and branching out is a good thing for all of us.

​Looking to try your hand at something new? Here’s an idea: Mindful Movement! Join Mrs. Schuster at 3:45 every Thursday after school for a quick yoga session! You can see Mrs. Schuster for more information in room 1321.

Self Love is NOT Selfish
11/29/19

Self love is the first step to anything good. It can be the first step in the start of a relationship, a friendship, a new career, or even a new hobby. By never apologizing for putting yourself first, and never forgetting your worth, more doors will open in your life. 

Self love is being happy with you for YOU! It is taking the time to like yourself without needing the approval of others. It is about building yourself into the person you want to be by going after your dreams. It is when you seek those dreams not for the approval of a parent or a friend, but for YOU.

Self love is setting a standard for yourself and always knowing your worth. It is about preparing yourself to be whole and undivided when the right kind of love makes its way to you.

There is a difference between self love and being selfish. You need to be aware that loving yourself just better helps you love others. It is about letting other people know that, although you’re capable of being on your own, you also welcome and value their company.

I may not be the best to attest to this. I may not always display the best example of self love. I would actually say I’m a horrible example of self love, but I can still say and wholeheartedly believe that self love is a key element of anything successful.

Of course, it is not easy, but as I grow, I try my best to better myself through self love. I think it is something EVERYONE can benefit from.
My Planner is My Best Friend
Maybe a Planner Could be YOUR Best Friend, too!
10/6/19
My planner is my best friend (sorry, Jo). Just about everything in my life resides in my little, paper planner: my school assignments, weekly to-dos, monthly checklists, upcoming birthdays and events, bucket lists, dreams and aspirations, daily thoughts, etc. I love my little, paper planner. 

Some people would call me crazy for scribbling down every thought or thing I have to do, planning months in advance, but those scribbles are a necessity to keep myself sane. This habit of mine is a key part of my self-care routine. 

Not only does my planner keep my life organized and in check, but I really do enjoy it. Most would say it’s old school, that it is time to add an app on my phone to keep track, but I’ve always thought there was something different about using my colorful pens and highlighters on the decorated pages of my planner and it’s proven that there is. 

Here is why you should pick up your very own planner:
  • Writing helps you remember!  This is scientifically proven! The Association for Physiological Science says that “taking notes by hand is better than taking notes on a laptop for remembering conceptual information over the long term.” This is just another way of saying, it's better to write it down.
  • Nothing’s better than checking something off a list! Checking items off a list makes us release small amounts of dopamine that gives us satisfaction. The more we cross of the list, the more we will want to do, and the more productive we will be!
  • Pretty Planners are motivating! Who doesn’t love a pretty planner?
  • Using a Planner Reduces Anxiety! Once you write it down, it will always be there. No more stressing out in order by trying to remember it all.
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I know planners aren't for everyone, but what is the downside in trying? ​It has way more benefits than pitfalls!

The Time to Help Our Planet is NOW
#THISISZEROHOUR 
​8/11/19

I feel like we are often told we are too young for the adult problems of this world. We are too young to take action because we are just kids.

I disagree.

Why wait to become a certain age to do something? There isn’t a better time than now to start going towards your goals and pursuing your dreams.

Sixteen-year-old Jamie Margolin and her crew of other teenagers around the world did not let other people's mindsets get in their way of taking action to save our planet through their non-profit organization Zero Hour.

Zero Hour works to educate communities around the world to better understand the root causes of climate change. From lunchtime phone conferences, protesting at the National Mall, to organizing climate strikes and summits, this youth led group is taking action to hold the adults and elected officials accountable for their inaction against climate change all around the world.

The science is there; global temperatures are rising, ice sheets are shrinking, oceans are warming, sea levels are rising, and that’s just the short list. You may be able to shrug your shoulders to the problem now, but if nothing is done, generations after us will not have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and plants and animals around us will become extinct which could ultimately lead to our extinction. This is all if the world isn’t already flooded with water due rising sea levels. It is not a pretty picture at all. 

Not able to join the protests and marches? There are still the little things you can do in your daily life to help combat climate change and save the earth!
  • Turn off your lights and unplug your electronics when you’re not using them.
  • Recycle.
  • Educate yourself and others about Climate Change.
  • Say no to plastic; plastic straws, water bottles, bags.
  • Email your state representatives and vote if you’re old enough.

As time ticks down, the Earth needs you now more than ever. Zero Hour wants YOU to help take action for a better tomorrow. Grab a few friends, educate yourself and take action, because there is never a better time to start than now. Change starts with you. Go to #thisiszerohour to learn more and join the cause.
I Simply Cannot Live Without...
6/26/19

“What is one thing you cannot live without?”

This is a question one gets asked more often than you think; whether it’s an application for a club, a first day of school assignment, etc. Whether I take the question literally, or not, it always seems to stump me.

The first things that come to my mind when I’m asked are things such as my cell phone, my car, or my dogs.

My phone!?  Though it has helped me daily, and I am afraid to admit that I may use it too much, I actually could imagine my life without it. My parents and generations before them survived just fine without one.

My car!? I went fifteen years of my life without it.

My dogs!? As much as I love my two lab puppies and old cockapoo, I have gone through loss with my childhood lab, and have realized as much as it hurts, it gets better.

All of these things make life easier in their own ways, but I still believe I could not only live a life without them, but live a happy life without them.

People seem to underestimate how much human beings are capable of enduring. Not only enduring, but taking a trauma and growing from it in positive ways. People who have lost loved ones, people with less than us, or anyone who has gone through a disabling experience can attest to this. 
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With that said, here are three things I simply cannot live without: 
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1. Beauty 
By beauty I mean watching the sunset or sunrise, whether I am at my Grandma’s house watching the sun go down behind stunning Lake Michigan or just watching the sunrise while I’m on my way to soccer weights in the morning. Beauty means looking at the flowers as I go on walks with my friends or dogs. Beauty goes beyond the beauty of nature. The beauty of seeing a group of friends laugh and have fun together, or the beauty of seeing someone having fun doing what they love. Beauty is being in awe of the amazing world around us. 

2. Hope
To have hope is to always have the outlook of a better tomorrow. It's the hope that you can get through what you’re going through. Not only hope for yourself, but hope for others. Hope is what keeps us going. 

3. Love
By love I don’t mean romance, but the act of being kind to others and feeling loved. The feeling of love whether it’s from your mom, dad, aunt, best friend, or pet is second to none! Love is associated with good company that makes us feel loved and cared for, and that’s always worth living for. ​

Remember, while a phone, car, and pets are all special - it's beauty, hope, and love that makes us complete.  
Junior. Puppy Lover. Pinterest enthusiast. Sweatshirt hoarder. Soccer player. I spend my days taking pictures of my pretty friends, watching movies, and traveling. ​