PLMS Counseling
May 26-29, 2020
Finding JOY!
"Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow."
--Helen Keller
"Quarantine (is Not Quite Over)" - Billie Jean Parody
Joy is Contagious!
Need a little pick me up? Put on your dancing shoes!
Today I Choose Joy!
In the midst of our current circumstances, it can be tempting to forgo joy and focus our attention on dealing with the problems at hand. However, positive emotions like joy play such an important role in helping us persevere through hard times. Focusing on joy can help us to shift our mindsets, relieve stress, and gain new perspective on our situation.
Joy is the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. To feel joy, we must be willing to let things in, allow ourselves to experience all the things that are good in life. "Joy is what happens to us when we recognize how good things really are" -Marianne Williamson. This week, choose to seek things that bring you Joy!
Ways to Add More Joy to Your Life
Make a Joy List: Take the time each day to write down the things you are grateful for and the things that make you the happiest. Reflect back on your list often.
Stay Active: Physical activity can inject a little joy into your day. Take a walk, ride your bike, go for a hike. Invite a friend to make it even more special.
Dance Like No One's Watching: Turn up the volume and get lost in in the music! Who cares what other people think. Dance your heart out.
Be a Joy Giver: Practice acts of kindness that trigger joy in others. The more you give the more you receive.
Try Something New: Shake things up a bit. What is on your bucket list that you haven’t checked off yet?
Laugh Until You Cry: Lighten the mood. Watch a good comedy. Find at least one video or audio clip that really does it for you. Everyone deserves a good laugh now and then.
Embrace Your Inner Child: Find ways to play in your day-to-day life. Go fly a kite, hop on a swing at the playground, go puddle jumping, or play a board game.
Make Something: A sense of accomplishment can be a great source of joy. Try a new recipe, put together a puzzle, or build a simple birdhouse in your backyard.
Netflix Finds
The Two Popes (2019)
The Little Prince (2015)
Queer Eye (2018)
Have You Heard about 'Butterfly Effect'?
It's the idea that small actions can create big impact. You can scatter joy by doing random acts of kindness. Flutter, and the world will change!
Make a cup of tea for someone you live with
Text someone why you are grateful for them
Send someone a meme or a picture of a cute animal
Leave a treat to your friend's door step
Send a motivational text to a struggling friend
Call a friend or relative who is experiencing isolation
Donate to charity or food bank
Arrange a virtual meeting with a friend
Paint small rocks and leave them on trails
Write a thank you note to someone
Creativity Corner with Ms. Elliot
Enjoying other people's creativity is another easy way to life your mood. Ms. Kiemle shared some photos from a house that she and her husband like to walk by on their neighborhood strolls, and they made me smile, too! The homeowners dress up and pose a model of a human skeleton (and dog!) doing funny things, like fishing and gardening, and even kayaking (see photo above). Hilarious! Ms. Kiemle and her husband can't wait to walk by that house to see what they will do next.
Even scrolling through Pinterest or other sites can bring creative inspiration your way. I found a group on Facebook where people submit photos of their re-creations of famous works of art, using household items, or dressing as the subject in the piece. It's great! And it inspires me for the future...like for next year's PLMS Trashion Show! Sadly, school closed this year before we could have our 4th annual Trashion Show, but it will be back next year. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, the Trashion Show is a design extravaganza, and students (and staff!) create fashion designs out of recycled or repurposed materials. It's amazing, and something that brings me joy when I think about doing it next year!
Be creative * Be inspired* Be joyful
Guest Baker: Ms. Sansing
Mental Health Support
Our awesome School-Based Mental Health Counselor, Rosie Bancroft rosalie.bancroft@swedish.org is available to support PLMS students and families online. She can also connect you to mental health community resources.
Crisis Text Line: 741-741
Crisis Connections: (206) 461-3210
Seattle Times Article:
How to help your teenagers if they're having a tough time during pandemic (5/20/2020)
PBSES with Ms. Bertnsen
Local COVID-19 Resources
ISD Family Supports Get help with technology, food, and transportation etc. Please connect with your counselor if you need further assistance.
King County COVID-19 Resource Guide
Financial help: small business owners, unemployment, immigrant communities, public health housing cash & utilities (updated as of April 24, 2020).
Counseling Team
School Counselors (Student Last Names):
(A-Ho) Kristen Brittain: brittaink@issaquah.wednet.edu
(Hp-Pa) Kirsi Varsa: varsak@issaquah.wednet.edu
(Pb-Z) Meagan Elliot: elliotm@issaquah.wednet.edu
School Based Mental Health Counselor
Rosie Bancroft: rosalie.bancroft@swedish.org
PBSES Coach
Tori Berntsen berntsenv@issaquah.wednet.edu
Registrar
Lakshmi Palaniappan: palaniappanl@issaquah.wednet.edu