Mental Health

Did you know that when you use the facial muscles to create a SMILE it stimulates a feel good party in your brain?  Smiling distracts momentarily and allows positive energy to recharge.  “Feel good neurotransmitters” are released when you smile!   Dopamine (attention modulator), endorphins (pain reliever), and Seratonin (mood lifter) join the party when you…

We were working on reading in phrases and she was going along well, when her face started to crumple, her eyes filled with tears, and she began breathing very quick, shallow breaths.  The stress reaction was becoming full-blown very quickly. Just as quickly, when distracted from the task, 10-year-old Serena recovered and became her friendly,…

From Struggle to Flight Dragon’s Teeth in Maui is one of my favorite places in the world.  Here in the coves created by lava flow, you can see sea turtles battling the currents and undertow as the waves pound in and out.  They are incredibly resilient and just keep going no matter how much they…