News and Updates at River Valley BHWC

March 8th is International Women's Day! Take time to appreciate all the wonderful women in your life for all they do. Here's a little history on the origin of the holiday:

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

Spurred on by the universal female suffrage movement, IWD originated from labor movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century. The earliest version was purportedly a "Women's Day" organized by the Socialist Party of America in New York City February 28, 1909.

March is National Disabilities Awareness month. Take a moment to learn about the history and why we celebrate:

On February 26, 1987, President Ronald Reagan officially declared Proclamation 5613, making March National Disabilities Awareness Month. The proclamation called for people to provide understanding, encouragement, and opportunities to help persons with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Broaden My Knowledge

Book of the Month: "Hygge: A Celebration of Simple Pleasures. Living the Danish Way."

Hygge, pronounced 'hoo-ga', is a Danish philosophy that roughly translates to 'cosiness'. But it is so much more than that. It's a way of life that encourages us to be kinder to ourselves, to take pleasure in the modest, the mundane and the familiar. It is a celebration of the everyday, of sensual experiences rather than things. It's an entire attitude towards life that results in Denmark regularly being voted one of the happiest countries in the world.

Video of the Month: "Finding Hygge"

Hygge, the Danish art of creating joy and coziness in life's everyday moments, has exploded in popularity amidst growing division and distrust around the world. But finding hygge in one's own life can be more complicated that it seems. This globe-trotting film presents a surprising, funny, and often philosophical collection of characters who share the meaning of hygge and how to find happiness.

This month we have a throwback to some fantastic techniques shared in a past newsletter to help regulate your brain stem. These can be used in a moment of anxiety or nervousness before a job interview, a test, sports, music, or any type of performance. The July 2021 entry shares a story of a youth baseball team that benefited from one of these techniques and ended up coming back to win a game. The September 2021 entry shares yet another technique for turning around a negative attitude. This month's article has consolidated these techniques and added some new ones. It is also in our "Cue to Be Well" archive so you can bookmark it and refer back to it as many times as you would like!

Why These Work

They help you get out of mid brain, also known as your emotional brain, by focusing on something other than what you are feeling. You will get unstuck and start to be in control.

Try any of these and if one does not work, go to the next one.

1. Sour Candy or Sour Gum
   Take two sour candies or sour gum and put them in back of your mouth on either side where your jaws meet. Suck on it so you get the puckering feeling. This works if you are upset or nervous!
2. Aromatic Oils
   Smell these with a deep breath and this is what they can do:
   Peppermint: Calming and invigorating
   Citrus: Calming and invigorating
3. Chapstick with Your Favorite Scent
   This is your go to in helping with refocusing or calming. Just put your chap stick on.
4. Rubber Wrist Bands
   There are two ways to use these:
   1. Remember your thoughts are one of the most important tools you have. Wrist bands that have positive sayings help remind you to change your negative thoughts. You can also flip it over and write a personal favorite. If you need to boost a team, have everyone flip them over and write a saying on them – such as, I Believe!
   2. Another trick is to snap the band on your wrist (not too hard and only do it to yourself!) but this can move your brain out of a negative state.
5. When in doubt…smile!
   Smiling is a secret weapon! Seriously. It will hit the spot in the brain which releases endorphins, which are your happy/go get em/I am powerful chemical. 
   1. A silly activity is to say: 1, 2, 3 Smile and then do your biggest smile. This is really hard to do when you are angry and you will think it is the stupidest thing ever!  DO it Anyway - it truly works!
   2. Eat a Laffy Taffy and read the silly joke on the wrapper. Share it with a friend or read to yourself. The point here is to smile and laugh! Laugh your most ridiculous sounding laugh from the dumb joke.