This summer, in addition to private practice I worked for Fiddleheads a social-emotional wellness camp for kids (5-8yrs) who've encountered trauma, kids with autism, and kids with sensory processing disorder's. Fiddlehead is a nature camp and this year we were based in the Presidio, hiking through red woods and playing in the sand. I learned so much from these kiddos and loved working with them! At camp, we taught mindfulness, social-emotional regulation and tolerance. As you can see in the picture some days we were even lucky enough to listen to guitar!

Most of us are familiar with the idiom, "All good things must come to an end". This quote comes from Geoffrey Chaucer an English author from the 1300's and the line was first seen in his poem, "Troilus and Crisyede" outlining the falling out of two lovers in ancient Troy. Although an old idiom, the feeling of good things ending or perhaps fear, a warning, or regret of losing a positive moment in time affects us all. This often occurs when relationships end or friendships are lost. Another way for us to look at this is to frame endings as a new opening or healing a part of ourselves that no longer requires that person's presence in our life. This is often a new ripe space for further growth and renewal. We may cherish friendships and relationships that have dwindled yet simultaneously honor our growth and potential for new harmony and connection.

“Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud” 
-Maya Angelou

This quote rings so true; according to science doing kind acts for others genuinely makes you happier. Cooperation or generosity activates a part of the brain called the striatum. This area of the brain responds to rewards like good food, a hot shower, or doing kind acts for others. The striatum releases what is called “warm glow” or positive energy with reward activation.

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” 
-Dr. Wayne Dyer