I’ve been sharing my mental health story with middle school and high school students with NAMI-NYC through their Ending the Silence program for almost 5 years now, and late last year I trained to become an In Our Own Voice presenter as well! It’s been an overwhelmingly gratifying experience to not only open up spaces to have conversations about mental health, but to meet new people that inspire me to continue my journey.
This Thursday April 4th at 6 pm EST you can hear me share my recovery story with Kristen in NAMI- NYC’s virtual story hour!
🌟 If you’re interested and would like to attend click here to reserve your spot 🌟
Whether it’s the transition from fall to winter, winter to spring, or spring to summer, the changes in seasons seem to always affect me in different ways 🤔. I definitely notice a change in my mood, thoughts, and motivation for sure. I even notice sometimes I have a persistent low mood in the hotter months sometimes too, but I’m more inclined to go outside for a walk.
What are your thoughts and experiences? How do the seasons affect you and your mental and/or physical health?
You can also find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here!
So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be hosting this Saturday! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. Click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for March 30th on the day of the workshop.
IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm!
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me a DM or email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.
*I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.
Title: Taking Back My Time
Description: “Taking Back My Time” is a creative, reflective, and fun event where we will draw, write, and reflect about important moments in our lives, goals and interests that we have, and our views on the passage of time. Starting with an ice breaker, we will sketch an image and write about one thing that’s on your bucket list this year. The main activity will then be to pick one of three activities. The first activity will be to draw a clock, hour glass, or calendar and share what your thoughts and ideas are when you think about the passage of time and how it affects you, the second activity will be to write a rhyming poem about a task or goal that you are procrastinating or prioritizing, and the third activity will be to write a journal entry about an important moment in your life and how it’s shaped who you are today. Lastly, we will close by sharing our works of art.
Materials Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).
Schedule 2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker 2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity 3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing
Excited to share my poem that was published in the Spotlight on Recovery magazine “Writer’s Choice” Part 7.
Get a better view of the poem here:
BREAKING UP WITH DARKNESS By Nina Rondon
I was in love with the darkness. We’ve been together for a while. Far away but so close, I could feel it holding my hand, kissing my cheek as I grin and bear it; putting on a fake smile.
At first our relationship seemed normal, natural I would say. We were right in all the wrong ways. Maybe we were soul mates, a concept I often wondered about. I craved love, so what’s the harm in loving the darkness, the cold, lonely dark cloud.
It wasn’t long before I noticed the pressure the darkness was putting on me. Expectations as deep as the ocean, a ball and chain locked to my wrists. Drowning would be the only option in a situation like this.
The more we were together, the more I noticed a shadow growing, hovering over me like a tree. It didn’t shade me, it was grief. I wasn’t comfortable, I wanted out, but it’s been so long since I spoke up, I lost my voice, I couldn’t shout.
This would be the first time I stood up for myself, I feel the stiffness as I swim up from the depths. It looks like such a long way up, but I have to do this, I have to take this step. I can see the light, the more I move close; like I was being reborn; a seed discovering its growth.
When I finally reached the surface, I have to admit I felt lost. This is the first time I’m out on my own without the darkness. What am I without it? Maybe, I should go back? I can hear it call. No! I need this! I’ve set myself free. This is how I broke up with the darkness. How I found… me.
Finish this sentence: Instead of ________ I choose to _______ this week.
Oh my goodness! I’ve had so many shifts and changes in my life this year already 😅. Honestly, I can barely keep up with it all. Despite all the changes, though, I still want to set intentional time to prioritize myself, my goals, and my needs.
For this week’s reflection let’s think about things we can do differently that may benefit us. What behaviors, habits, or routines do you want to change or improve?
I’ll go first! Instead of scrolling on social media for a few hours every day, I choose to read and watch my comfort shows this week.
What about you?
You can also find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.
So very excited to announce the NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop event I will be hosting this Saturday! This event will be via Zoom and on the NAMI-NYC website. You can find the link here. On the day of the event, click the Expressive Arts Zoom link for February 24, 2024.
IMPORTANT: This Expressive Arts workshop and the ones following this one are from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm!
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send me an email 💟. The time of the event is in Eastern Standard Time.
*I will share any updates or changes and keep everyone posted.
Title: At Home Within Myself: I Know Who I Am
Description: “At Home Within Myself: I Know Who I Am” is a creative, reflective, and fun event where we will draw, write, and reflect about ourselves. Starting with an ice breaker, we will sketch an image and write a list of 3 things you want to focus on, get done, or achieve this weekend. The main activity will then be to pick one of three activities. The first activity will be to draw a house and around that house write your favorite hobbies, things that help you get through the day, habits that you find helpful and would like to continue, and boundaries you want to set for yourself, the second activity will be to write a poem about a challenge you want to overcome or something you want to do differently moving forward, and the third activity will be write a journal entry describing a weakness you want to turn into a strength or a strength you want to build on. Lastly, we will close by sharing our works of art.
Materials: Paper, writing utensils (pen, pencil, markers, or crayons).
Schedule: 2:00 – 2:20: Introductions and Ice breaker 2:20 – 3:00: Main Activity 3:00 – 3:30: Sharing and Closing
As I prepare for my first NAMI-NYC Expressive Arts workshop for the year (I will share the flyer soon), I want to go back and share the affirmations we closed off each workshop with last year. I’m grateful for every opportunity I have to creatively express myself with a community I care so much about ♥️.
Here’s to the girl that never had a first dance Who watched everyone at her school prom get asked out but her Who’s been told she wasn’t pretty growing up Who was never anyone’s first choice Who’s been ghosted over and over Who’s been told she was too much Who feels like she doesn’t belong anywhere or with anyone Who’s been used Who fell in love with someone that didn’t feel the same Who wished fairy tales were real Who has cried herself to sleep wondering what went wrong Who’s hope and desire for love is withering away with each passing day
Me too
But, despite all of this you are STILL beautiful and worthy of all the love this world has to offer. It’s OK to love on yourself, especially on those days when everything feels heavy and the shame of loneliness is eating at your mental health. There’s nothing wrong with you. You absolutely deserve the companionship you wish for. There’s still life left to live, OK?
I love you. We can continue moving forward together.
Learning to listen to the whispers of my intuition.
The more I quiet my mind, the louder it becomes.
It’s gentle and soft.
A teacher.
Each lesson allowing the seeds of self-confidence to blossom.
Unlike my ego thoughts, my intuition is quiet, kind, and gentle. If I’m not listening, I can’t hear when it’s giving me directions and guiding me through my day. I’m learning what the voice of my intuition sounds like and how it feels to pay attention. When I allow my intuitive thoughts to lead, my confidence naturally follows.
Affirmation: I trust myself and my intuition. I know who I am.
What does it feel like for you to follow your intuition? How do you know when your intuition is trying to tell you something?
Encouragement Rest Stop: Write an encouraging message in the comments below.
Write an encouraging message in the comments below for someone who may need it this week ⭐.
I’ll go first!
It’s OK if all you do is exist today. Take as much time as you need for yourself. You are important and deserve to do what’s best for you.
Need help thinking of a message to share? Drop a favorite quote, affirmation, song verse, or positive coping strategy instead. 💌
Find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.
What words, thoughts, phrases, or ideas come to mind when you think about the passage of time?
Mighties, we’re a few days into the new year and I’m working on building a different perspective when it comes to my ideas of time and how to best move forward.
The first step I’m taking is making a list of thoughts, words, phrases, and ideas that come to mind when it comes to the concept of time in general. Here is my list:
💫”Time is an illusion” 🌱 “Time is a series of present moments” 🔁 Past, present, future ⌛Running out ⏰ “Give yourself time” ✅ Right time 🦋 “Time heals all things” 🧘 Patience
What ideas are most true for you? ⌚
This prompt is also in the Chat Space group on The Mighty here.
SparklyWarTanks 