Wednesday Pick Me Up - August 2021

Intro

We can’t believe that summer is soon coming to an end! We’re grateful that we get to close out our summer with all of you and hope that our last Wednesday Pick Me Up of the summer provides you with useful information.

We want to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to Sally who wrote to us last month and requested an article on Gender Pronouns. Her request is being fulfilled in our emotional section below! Remember, if there’s any topic that you’d like for us to feature in our Wednesday Pick Me Up, you can always email us your request at info@sewi.org. We will do our best to meet the request if it’s within our scope.

P.S. Although cooking may not be on your priority list during hot summer days, we found a great list of recipes that will hopefully help you stay cool.

Social - Staycations

With the uncertainty of Covid 19, many of us are rethinking our summer vacation plans. If you decide to cancel your travel plans, there is still a way to enjoy a vacation, how about a Staycation?! Staycations give us the opportunity to experience your local cities in a brand new way! Staycations are an opportunity for you to hit those bucket list items that you haven’t gotten the chance to see yet, visit the newest restaurants that you’ve been wanting to try, and explore off-the-beaten-path activities that will help make you feel like a tourist in your own city.

Do a little research and find those interesting places you’ve always wanted to go to but never made the time. If you’re up for it, you can even stay at a hotel or use one of the home sharing websites such as Airbnb or Vrbo to book a stay at a private home or apartment so you’re really away from home. No matter where you live, we’re sure that there is something new and different that you haven’t experienced and if there truly isn’t, try visiting the closest city/town or if it’s not too far, a state near you.

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Emotional

In English, our most commonly used pronouns (he/she) specifically refer to a person’s gender. For queer, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and transgender people, these pronouns may not fit, can create discomfort, and can cause stress and anxiety.

A recent study showed that in transgender youth, using correct pronouns and names reduces depression and suicide risks.

Having trouble understanding why this would upset someone? Think about your pronoun. Now imagine someone calling you the one you don’t think of yourself as, for example, if you refer to yourself as she and someone calls you he. Imagine them doing it over and over and over, even after you’ve corrected them. It can be frustrating, disrespectful and hurtful.

We found a great article on NPR.org that has a glossary of gender identity terms and breaks down when and how to use the different pronouns. Check it out here!

As always if you or someone you know needs support. Email us at Care@SEWI.org

Physical

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Meditation originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. These days, meditation is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction. The soothing power of repetition is at the heart of meditation. Focusing on the breath, ignoring thoughts, and repeating a word or phrase - a mantra - creates the biological response of relaxation.

According to the Mayo clinic:

Meditation might also be useful if you have a medical condition, especially one that may be worsened by stress. While a growing body of scientific research supports the health benefits of meditation, some researchers believe it's not yet possible to draw conclusions about the possible benefits of meditation.

With that in mind, some research suggests that meditation may help people manage symptoms of conditions such as:

Anxiety

Asthma

Cancer

Chronic pain

Depression

Heart disease

High blood pressure

Irritable bowel syndrome

Sleep problems

Tension headaches

Be sure to talk to your health care provider about the pros and cons of using meditation if you have any of these conditions or other health problems. In some cases, meditation can worsen symptoms associated with certain mental and physical health conditions.

Meditation isn't a replacement for traditional medical treatment. But it may be a useful addition to your other treatment.

If you’re curious about meditation and want to try it out for yourself check out these free meditation apps

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Good News- Check out this story about a 10 year old boy who is on a mission to share his love of reading with others!

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