Feb 23, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
You know the “5-second rule,” right? Well this week we’re going to talk about a new 5-second rule that has nothing to do with floor cleanliness. This one is all about how we establish first impressions of people so that we less likely unconsciously categorize them in biased or unfair ways.
We’ll watch
a brief video featuring Quita Christison, a youth empowerment activist who, due to a rare form of dwarfism, is often mistaken for a preteen at first impression. The acronym tool she urges her listeners to use is STOP, which stands for “see the other person.” We all want to be seen for who we are, so what better way to help make that happen than to start by paying it forward!
Our warm-up question for this week:
Who did you think was the “coolest” person when you were a kid, whether they were a celebrity or someone you knew in your day-to-day life?
Feb 19, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
I think we’d all agree that excessive screen time is a real challenge facing our youth. But what about you and me? Do you know how much time you actually spend looking at a screen between work, time on your phone, and even watching a “traditional” TV (yes, those are screens, too!).
In this week’s Stronger Together conversation we’re going to talk about screen time: the good, the bad, and the backlit. We’ll listen to a brief episode of the Verywell Mind Podcast on how to improve mental strength by better managing screen time, and since it’s audio only we can even look away from our screens while we listen along!
Our warm-up question for this week:
What’s your favorite app on your phone or tablet, and why?
Alex Trouteaud
Jan 30, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
It’s easy to spot someone who is full of confidence, but what does that actually mean? Why does confidence seem to come easier to some people than others? And what happens to our mental well-being when we persistently struggle to feel confident?
In this week’s Stronger Together conversation we’re going to talk about what it means to be confident, where it comes from, and
how we can boost it when we need a lift. Perhaps just as importantly, we’ll talk about when it’s okay
not to feel confident, and how we can be at peace with that mental state.
Our warm-up question for this week:
If you could take as many free vacations as you want for the rest of your life, but you were only allowed to go to one place for those vacations, where would you go and why? (since I know you’ll ask: yes, you can bring other people with you!)
Jan 18, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hi friends,
This week we’re going to talk about
one reason why we tend to do things that are perplexing even to us. You know the frustration: you think about a behavior you engaged in or a decision you made a few days ago and ask yourself, “
why did I do that?“
The concept we’re going to explore is called the “
empathy gap,” and it turns out that it’s a part of how we’re hard-wired as human beings. The good news is that by being more aware of it, we might (occasionally) be less prone to its downside effects when it comes to mental well-being.
Our warm-up question for this week:
What’s the best dish, recipe, or meal someone has ever cooked for you, and what makes it so special?
Here’s the login info for this Thursday at 7pm:
Meeting ID: 939 9668 7354
Passcode: 11815
– Alex Trouteaud
Jan 15, 2023 | Fellowship, Mental Health Ministry
On January 14, St. James’ parishioners again gathered their supportive furry companions and kids and anyone else who wanted to come along for a walk on the C & O Canal towpath. We explored Carderock South this time. It was a cold windy day, but the ducks were swimming and the dogs were moving along at a good clip. Join us for our next walk on February 11! Watch your email and our events calendar for information.
Jan 11, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hi friends,
Our topic for this week’s
Stronger Together conversation revolved around
the video we’ll watch. We’re going to dive back into the “basics” of mental health: what it is, how we define it, and what that means for better understanding mental illness. It may sound like an elementary topic, but it’s definitely not.
The video is just a few minutes long, but it is packed with really useful information. I found it both valuable and interesting, and I’m pretty sure that like me, you’ll learn a thing or two when you watch it. To that end, I recommend watching it once by yourself ahead of time, and then again while we’re all together on the call. There’s a lot to absorb and discuss!
Our warm-up question for this week:
What’s one fact about you that most people are surprised to learn?
Here’s the login info for this Thursday at 7pm:
Meeting ID: 939 9668 7354
Passcode: 11815
See you soon,
Alex Trouteaud
