Community Family Game Night
2026-05-01 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | United Church of Christ, 23 Central Square, Keene, NH, 03431, United States
Join us for an evening of games, snacks, and community connection at our Family Game Night!
We’ll have a variety of games for all ages—whether you love classic board games, card games, or something new.
Families are also welcome to bring a favorite game from home to share.
Games provided. Snacks provided. Community provided. Just bring yourself and your playful spirit (no registration needed)!

Come celebrate the joy and importance of coming together for this FREE Event. Taking time to play, laugh, and connect with others is a powerful way to support mental health—for both kids and adults.

Inspirational Quote
2026-05-02
Please consider making a donation to Maps Hope & Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Nature and Mental Health: Root Yourself in the Moment
2026-05-03
Theme: Grounding through Nature
Nature has a way of helping us feel rooted — literally and emotionally. When life feels overwhelming, connecting with the natural world can bring us back to the present moment. Connecting with nature doesn’t have to mean hiking mountains. It’s about noticing and experiencing the natural world, wherever you are and however you can.
Ideas to try:
• Sit outside and notice the feeling of the ground beneath you.
• Hold a small stone, leaf, or flower and focus on its texture and details.
• If outdoor access is difficult, sit by an open window and take in the sounds of birds or the scent of fresh air.
• Watch a nature video or listen to an outdoor soundscape — like streams, rain, or birdsong.
• Take a “noticing walk” — walk slowly and try to find five things you’ve never noticed before.
• Lie on your back and watch the clouds move across the sky.
• Gently touch tree bark, leaves, or grass and notice the different textures.
• Dip your fingers into a bowl of water and imagine it’s a cool river or ocean.
• Bring a small plant indoors and tend to it, observing it each day.
• Close your eyes and imagine yourself in your favorite outdoor place. Visualize the colors, sounds, and smells.
• Sketch a leaf, flower, or tree branch, focusing on its intricate patterns.
• Sit under a tree and listen to the wind moving through its branches.
• Take photos of small natural details — a raindrop, a pattern in a rock, the veins of a leaf.
• Watch the sunrise or sunset, even briefly, and notice how the light changes.
• Collect a few natural objects (stones, shells, pinecones) and create a small “nature altar” in your home.

Please make a donation to the Maps Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Mindful Minute Monday
2026-05-04, 2026-05-11, 2026-05-18, 2026-05-25
Donations to support our Hope and Healing Fund are welcome at Online Donation Form – MAPS.

Tuesday Mental Health Info
2026-05-05
Finding the Right Fit: Different Types of Psychotherapy
Did you know there are many different approaches to psychotherapy? Finding the right fit can make a big difference. Each approach offers a different path — and the best therapy for you is the one that feels safe, supportive, and aligned with your needs.
Here’s a quick overview of some common types of psychotherapy:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. Helps you notice unhelpful patterns and build healthier, more empowering ones.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores how past experiences, relationships, and deeper emotions influence your current life. Helps build insight and emotional understanding.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Teaches you to accept difficult feelings rather than fighting them, while helping you move toward actions that align with your values and goals.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Offers skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and building healthy relationships. Originally developed to support people with intense emotional experiences.
Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy: Incorporates a person’s spiritual or religious beliefs — if desired — into the therapy process, offering a holistic way to explore meaning, healing, and inner growth.
Humanistic Therapy: Focuses on personal growth, self-acceptance, and living an authentic, meaningful life. Approaches like Person-Centered Therapy emphasize unconditional positive regard and empathy.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Centers on improving relationships and communication patterns. Often used to address depression, grief, and life transitions through a relational lens.
Somatic Therapy: Involves the body in the healing process, recognizing that trauma and emotions can live in our physical experiences. Techniques may include breathwork, movement, or body awareness.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Originally developed for trauma, EMDR uses guided eye movements to help the brain reprocess distressing memories and reduce their emotional charge. For those with serious eye concerns, you may consider visiting an emergency eye care specialist as soon as possible.
Narrative Therapy: Helps you explore the stories you tell about yourself and your life — and reauthor them in ways that reflect your strengths, hopes, and resilience.
Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT): Focuses on healing through connection, emphasizing that growth happens within supportive, authentic relationships rather than in isolation.
Art and Expressive Therapies: Use creative processes like art, music, or writing as tools for self-expression, healing, and discovery — especially when words alone aren’t enough.

It’s important to know: Many therapists integrate elements from multiple approaches to best support each client’s unique needs. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all — it’s a collaborative process designed to be flexible and responsive to you. The most important part of therapy is not the model itself, but that the work feels tailored to your goals, your values, and your healing journey.

You deserve a space where you feel heard, respected, and empowered.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Spiritual Wisdom: This Too Shall Pass
2026-05-06
The following story of unknown origin but likely based on an ancient Persian folktale, has helped me keep life’s ups and downs in perspective and maintain my emotional equilibrium.
Enjoy.
Rabbi Dan

One day King Solomon decided to humble Benaiah ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, “Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for the Sukkot festival (the biblical Festival of Booths or Tabernacles), which gives you six months to find it.”
“If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty,” replied Benaiah, “I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?”
“It has special powers,” answered the king. “If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy.” Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister some added humility.
Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the day before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of the poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day’s wares on a shabby carpet. “Have you by any chance heard of a special ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?” asked Benaiah.
He watched the elderly man take a plain gold ring from his carpet and engrave something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile.
That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity. “Well, my friend,” said King Solomon, “have you found what I sent you after?” All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled.
To everyone’s surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, “Here it is, your majesty!” As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: Gimel, Zayin, Yud, which begin the words “Gam zeh ya’avor – This too shall pass.”
At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.

Journal and Drawing Prompts
2026-05-07
Journal Prompts

For Children:
If your feelings were animals, what would they be and why?
For Teens and Adults:
If your mental health had a weather report today, what would it be?

Drawing Prompts
For Children:
Feelings Zoo
If your feelings were animals, what would they be? Draw the animals to show your feelings.
For Teens and Adults:
Self-Portrait as a Weather Pattern
Are you a storm, a breeze, a sunset, a foggy day? Draw yourself as today’s inner weather.

Please consider making a donation to Maps Hope & Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Friday Fun on Purpose: Laughter
2026-05-08
Fun isn’t frivolous — it’s a form of self-care. Play, laughter, and creativity help our minds and bodies recover from stress. Laughter is more than just a reaction — it’s a release, a reset, a way our bodies remind us that lightness is still possible, even in hard times. Sometimes when we’re under stress, laughter feels far away, but we can gently invite it back.
Today, give yourself permission to seek out a smile, a chuckle, or even a full-belly laugh — no matter how small.
Ideas to spark laughter:
• Watch a funny video or a favorite comedy clip that always gets you.
• Read a comic strip, a humorous book, or silly children’s jokes.
• Spend time with someone who makes you laugh easily.
• Play a silly game — charades, Mad Libs, Pictionary — even over text!
• Look up “wholesome memes” or “animals doing funny things” online.
• Allow yourself to laugh at something ridiculous or absurd today — even if it’s just how seriously we sometimes take ourselves.
• Re-watch a scene from a favorite sitcom, movie, or show that made you laugh out loud before.
• Try a “bad joke battle” — see who can tell the worst (most groan-worthy) joke and still keep a straight face.
• Listen to a lighthearted podcast or stand-up comedy routine that lifts your mood.
• Try to draw an animal — with your eyes closed. Share it (or don’t) but let yourself giggle at the result.
• Watch “fail” videos of cats knocking things over (sometimes pure slapstick is surprisingly healing!).
• Read “funny autocorrect fails” or “funniest wrong number texts” online.
• Tell yourself a joke out loud — hearing your own voice say something silly can shift your mood.
• Find an old yearbook or family photo album and laugh (kindly) at fashion choices, haircuts, or awkward poses.
• Write a short, ridiculous story — one that makes no sense — and allow yourself to enjoy how nonsensical it is.
• Play a goofy filter game on your phone (some have funny faces or voice changers).
• Have a contest with a friend or family member: who can make the silliest doodle in under 30 seconds?
• Try watching a silent video (like a cooking demo) and narrate it out loud with the most dramatic or ridiculous commentary you can think of.
• Remember a time you laughed uncontrollably — even just picturing it can bring a fresh smile.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Inspirational Quote
2026-05-09
Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Nature and Mental Health: Grow Your Sense of Wonder
2026-05-10
Theme: Wonder and Curiosity in Nature
Wonder is powerful for mental health — it invites curiosity, creativity, and a break from daily stress. Nature offers endless chances to reconnect with wonder, no matter where we are. Wonder is not about doing more; it’s about noticing more. Every body and every pace is welcome in this practice.
Ideas to spark wonder:
• Go outside and find one small thing you’ve never noticed before — a bud, a birdcall, a crack in the sidewalk.
• Take a “wonder walk” where the goal isn’t distance, but simply noticing.
• Tend to a houseplant or watch a time-lapse of seeds growing online.
• Try “sky-gazing” — simply lie back or sit comfortably and watch the sky for a few minutes.
• Look closely at a patch of grass, a puddle, or a tree trunk — notice the small world living there.
• Watch insects going about their work — bees gathering pollen, ants following their trails.
• Keep a “tiny miracles” journal and write down one thing each day that sparked a little wonder.
• Smell a flower, some herbs, or even a handful of soil — notice the layers of scent.
• Listen to the layers of sound around you: birdsong, wind, rustling leaves, distant traffic.
• Watch how sunlight moves across a surface over time — across your floor, a wall, or a garden.
• Set a timer for five minutes and find as many different shades of green (or any color) as you can.
• Find a tree and imagine how many stories it could tell if it could speak.
• Create a small “found nature” collection — gather fallen leaves, feathers, pebbles, or twigs you discover.
• Look up at the stars or the moon — even if just for a minute — and imagine the vastness beyond.
• Notice how rain smells different than dry earth (this scent is called petrichor).
• Look at a flower or leaf through a magnifying glass or close-up camera setting — notice the hidden patterns.
• Try drawing a natural object with your non-dominant hand — and let go of perfection.
• Find two natural objects and imagine a connection or a “story” between them.
• Sit silently outside for 5 minutes and notice how the world moves without your participation.
• Learn the name of one new tree, bird, or flower in your area — just one!
• Blow a dandelion and watch the seeds float away — and notice where your mind goes.
• Stand barefoot on grass, sand, or soil (if accessible) and feel the textures under your feet.
• Let yourself be amazed by something tiny — a dew drop, a spiderweb, a blade of grass.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Tuesday Mental Health Info
2026-05-12
Supporting Your Own Mental Health: Ongoing Care and Wellbeing
Mental health care isn’t just something we turn to during times of crisis — it’s a lifelong, vital part of overall wellbeing. Just like we care for our physical health by eating nourishing foods, staying active, or visiting a doctor when needed, mental health thrives when we tend to it consistently and with care.
Even when things are going well, small, steady habits can help maintain mental health gains, strengthen resilience, and create a foundation for navigating future challenges.
Ways to Care for Your Mental Health:
• Prioritize regular sleep, balanced nutrition, and movement (as your body is able and in ways you enjoy).
• Practice mindfulness, meditation, prayer, or relaxation techniques to help anchor you in the present moment.
• Make space for friendships, hobbies, laughter, and rest — they’re essential, not optional.
• Continue therapy, medication, peer support, or self-care routines even after major symptoms improve. Maintenance is progress.
• Set healthy boundaries around work, technology, and relationships to protect your energy.
• Engage in creative expression — art, music, writing, crafts — as a way to explore emotions and reconnect with joy.
• Spend time outdoors when possible, even briefly — nature has a grounding, restorative effect.
• Reflect periodically on your needs and goals — mental health care evolves with you over time.
• Celebrate small wins and moments of growth, even if they seem minor. Progress is not always loud.
• Seek help early if you notice warning signs returning — early support can prevent deeper struggles.
Remember: Ongoing mental health care is not a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength, self-awareness, and self-respect. Tending to your wellbeing is an act of courage and love, both for yourself and for those around you. You are worth the time and care it takes.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Spiritual Wisdom from Islam
2026-05-13
“
Islamic tradition doesn’t frame “mental health” in modern clinical language, but it does offer rich metaphors about inner struggle, emotional pain, and resilience. A few stand out because they map surprisingly well onto how we think about psychological states today:

The Story of Prophet Ayyub (Job) – Endurance Without Bitterness

The story of Ayyub is one of prolonged suffering—loss of health, wealth, and family. Yet the key detail often emphasized is not just patience, but how he endured:
He expressed pain honestly, but without despair or resentment toward God.
Mental health parallel:
This distinguishes suppression from healthy expression. Ayyub does not deny suffering—he names it. That’s closer to modern therapeutic advice: acknowledging distress while maintaining a framework of meaning.

“Tie Your Camel”

A famous saying attributed to Muhammad:
A man asked whether he should trust in God or tie his camel. The Prophet replied: “Tie it and trust.”
Mental health parallel:
This is essentially a model of dual responsibility:

Take practical steps (seek therapy, medication, lifestyle changes)
Maintain spiritual trust (reduce excessive worry about outcomes)

It pushes back against both fatalism (“nothing I do matters”) and total self-reliance (“everything depends on me”).

“Lower Self” (Nafs) as an Inner Adversary

Islamic teachings often describe the nafs (ego/self) as something that can:

distort thinking
amplify fear or desire
pull a person away from balance

Mental health parallel:
This resembles the idea of intrusive thoughts, maladaptive patterns, or internal conflict. The goal isn’t to eliminate the self—but to train and regulate it, much like emotional regulation in psychology.
“
Thanks,
Mohammad Saleh
Keene, NH

Journal and Drawing Prompts
2026-05-14
Journal Prompts
For Children:
Make a list of “feel-good” things you can do when you’re having a tough day.
For Teens and Adults:
How do you respond to stress, and how would you like to respond?

Drawing Prompts
For Children:
My Calm Down Toolbox
Draw five things that help you feel better when you’re upset. Put them in a “toolbox” on your page.
For Teens and Adults:
Create a Visual “Stress Map”
Where do you feel stress in your body? Draw an outline of your body and use colors, textures, or symbols to show where stress lives.

Please consider making a donation to Maps Hope & Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Friday Fun on Purpose: Micro-Moments of Joy
2026-05-15
Not every fun moment has to be big. Tiny sparks of joy — even just for a few seconds — can brighten your day and lift your spirit. If finding joy feels hard today, that’s not a personal failure — that’s important information. It’s a sign your heart might be carrying a heavy load, not that you’re doing anything wrong. It’s okay to ask for support. You deserve to feel moments of lightness again.
Today, we invite you to gently open the door to small joys — no pressure, no expectations.
Ideas to Explore:
• Try a new kind of tea, coffee, or treat — something comforting or exciting to your senses.
• Watch a funny animal video — dogs in snow, cats causing chaos, birds dancing.
• Call, text, or voice message someone who makes you smile — even a short hello can lift you both.
• Light a candle or diffuse a favorite scent and sit quietly for a moment, soaking it in.
• Step outside and feel the sun or breeze on your skin — even for just one deep breath.
• Play a favorite song and move to it — whether it’s a full dance or just a sway in your chair.
• Wrap yourself in a cozy blanket and sip something warm.
• Give yourself permission to pause — set a timer for two minutes and simply be without doing.
• Doodle something silly without any goal of making it “good.”
• Look around and find one beautiful thing you hadn’t noticed before.
• Smile — even if you don’t feel like it at first. Sometimes the motion invites the emotion.
• Watch the clouds drift by or the trees sway — let yourself be quietly amazed.
• Flip through an old photo album or your camera roll and find a happy memory.
• Wear your favorite comfy socks, sweater, or cozy item — comfort is a form of care.
• Try a tiny “gratitude scavenger hunt” — find three small things you’re glad exist right now (a favorite mug, a comfy chair, a bird singing outside).
Small moments of joy are seeds. Over time, they can grow into a garden of hope.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Inspirational Quote
2026-05-16
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Viktor Frank

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Nature and Mental Health
2026-05-17
Listen for Layers
Step outside or open a window and listen for the layers of the natural world — birdsong, wind through leaves, water moving, insects, rain, or branches shifting. Notice how listening closely can quiet the urge to do, fix, or figure out, and help you return to the present moment.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Tuesday Mental Health Info
2026-05-19
How to Support a Friend or Loved One Who’s Struggling
It can be hard to know what to say or do when someone you care about is struggling with their mental health. You might worry about saying the wrong thing, or feel unsure of how to help. The truth is, you don’t have to have perfect words or solutions — small, compassionate actions can make a powerful difference.
Ways to Show Support:
• Listen more than you talk. Sometimes the greatest gift you can offer is a listening ear. Allow your friend or loved one to share their feelings without immediately trying to fix, solve, or give advice. Phrases like “I’m here with you” or “That sounds really hard” can be more powerful than any solution.
• Offer specific help. Instead of saying “Let me know if you need anything,” offer something concrete: “I’m going to the store — can I grab you anything?” “I’m free on Sunday if you’d like company on a walk.” Specific offers can feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
• Normalize reaching out for professional help. Seeking therapy, medication support, or other professional services is a brave and healthy step — not a sign of failure. You might say, “A lot of people find it really helpful to talk to a therapist — I can help you find someone if you want.” Let them know they’re not alone.
• Respect their pace. Everyone moves through challenges differently. Be patient if they need time to open up or to take next steps. Avoid pushing or setting expectations for how fast healing “should” happen.
• Check in without pressure. A simple text like “Thinking of you — no need to respond” can be incredibly comforting. It reminds them they’re not forgotten, even if they’re not ready to talk.
• Take care of yourself too. Supporting someone else can be emotionally demanding. Make sure you’re setting boundaries, seeking support when needed, and tending to your own wellbeing alongside theirs. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
• Accept that you won’t have all the answers. You don’t need to have the perfect thing to say. Simply being present — being someone who sees them, believes them, and stays kind — can be a deeply healing experience.
Remember: You don’t have to fix someone’s pain to be part of their healing. Your care, presence, and steady support matter more than you know.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Spiritual Wisdom From The Book of Common Prayer
2026-05-20
…. based on a passage from Isaiah. I have found this prayer to be very helpful in remembering that God is in charge not me and I pray it whenever I feel like a to-do list is ruling over me.

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Rev. Elsa Worth
St. James Episcopal Church

Journal and Drawing Prompts
2026-05-21
Journal Prompts
For Children:
What is something kind you’ve done for someone else? What is something kind someone has done for you?
For Teens and Adults:
Describe a small moment of joy from today. What made it meaningful?

Drawing Prompts
For Children:
Draw Your Heart
What’s inside your heart today? Draw and color things, people, and animals you love.
For Teens and Adults:
A Garden of Kindness
Draw flowers in a garden. Each flower represents a kind action, word, or thought. Fill the garden with kindness you’ve shared or received.

Please consider making a donation to Maps Hope & Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Friday Fun on Purpose: Reconnect with What Used to Be Fun
2026-05-22
When life feels heavy, it can be easy to lose touch with the activities that once sparked joy. Sometimes, what used to feel effortless now feels far away — and that’s okay. Today, we invite you to gently reconnect with a piece of that former fun, without pressure or expectations. It’s not about recapturing the past perfectly — it’s about giving yourself permission to experience a moment of play, however small. Remember: It’s not about doing it “right” or “perfectly.” It’s about inviting a little playfulness back into your day — even just for a few minutes. If the idea of play feels far away, you’re not alone. Sometimes mental health struggles take the color out of life. It’s okay to ask for help. Playfulness doesn’t erase our struggles — but even a small spark of it can help light the way forward.
Ideas to explore:
• Color with crayons, markers, or sidewalk chalk.
• Build a pillow or blanket fort — and sit inside with a book, a snack, or simply your own breath.
• Blow bubbles.
• Skip stones across a pond or throw pebbles into a river just to watch the ripples.
• Play a simple childhood game — hopscotch, hide and seek, catch.
• Play a video game you loved as a child.
• Make paper airplanes and see how far they fly.
• Swing on a swing set and feel the air move around you.
• Watch a favorite cartoon from your childhood.
• Finger paint — no “good” or “bad,” just color and motion.
• Press flowers between the pages of an old book.
• Try “cloud spotting” and find shapes and stories in the sky.
• Play with modeling clay, Play-Doh, or kinetic sand — let your hands lead, not your mind.
• Make friendship bracelets or a simple craft with beads or string.
• Put on music you loved as a teenager and let yourself sing along (off-key is welcome).
• Try jumping rope — even if you laugh and miss every third jump.
• Plant a seed in a small pot and watch it grow day by day.
• Build a tiny “fairy house” out of natural materials like sticks, moss, and stones.
• Relearn a childhood magic trick, joke, or riddle — and share it with someone.
• Have an old-fashioned “picnic” indoors with a blanket and your favorite snack foods.
• Play with water — fill a bowl and float small objects, splash your hands, feel the coolness.
• Blow up a balloon and see how long you can keep it in the air.
• Do cartwheels, somersaults, or spin in a circle — only if your body feels good doing it!
• Create a mini scavenger hunt for yourself or someone you love — even with tiny, silly clues.
• Make up a secret handshake — even if it’s just with yourself.
• Fold origami animals or simple shapes.
• Try making “nature art” with found items like leaves, twigs, or petals.
• Draw a treasure map for an imaginary adventure.
• Pretend you’re a “tourist” in your own town — what small things would you notice with fresh eyes?
• Watch fireflies or listen for frogs at dusk if you can access an outdoor space.
• Wear something that feels playful — bright socks, silly earrings, a favorite old T-shirt.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Inspirational Quote
2026-05-23
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Nature and Mental Health
2026-05-24
Notice Something Growing
Spend a few minutes looking for signs of growth today — a bud, a new leaf, moss, grass, seedlings, or even a houseplant. Let it be a reminder that growth is often quiet, slow, and still real.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Tuesday Mental Health Info
2026-05-26
Social Media & Mental Health: Finding Your Balance
Social media is part of modern life, and it can offer real benefits: connection, community, education, humor, advocacy, and support. At the same time, research shows that how we use it matters. Social media can become stressful when it disrupts sleep, increases comparison, exposes us to harmful content, or leaves us feeling more disconnected. The goal does not have to be quitting altogether. Instead, consider using social media with intention: notice how you feel before and after scrolling, follow accounts that support your well-being, take breaks when needed, and protect time for sleep, movement, creativity, and in-person connection. A healthier relationship with social media starts with asking: Is this helping me feel more connected, informed, and grounded — or is it time to step away for a bit?
The balanced framing is consistent with APA and U.S. Surgeon General guidance: social media can have benefits and risks, and healthy use depends on content, timing, personal vulnerability, sleep disruption, and whether online time replaces meaningful offline connection.
Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Spiritual Wisdom
2026-05-27
In spite of betrayal and pain, mistreatment and cruelty, and bearing all the accumulated sins and sorrows of the human family, the Son of the living God looked down the long path of mortality, saw us, and said:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
-Jeffrey R. Holland, Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Journal and Drawing Prompts
2026-05-28
Nature’s Small Invitations
Journal Prompt for Children:Think about something small in nature that you noticed recently — a bird, a bug, a flower, a cloud, a leaf, or even the sound of rain. What did you notice? How did it make you feel?
Journal Prompt for Teens & Adults:Nature often invites us to slow down and pay attention. Reflect on a small moment in nature that brought you calm, curiosity, comfort, or wonder. What did you notice, and what did it offer you?
Drawing Prompt for Children:Draw a tiny nature treasure you might find outside. Make it big on your page so everyone can see its colors, shapes, and details.
Drawing Prompt for Teens & Adults:Create a close-up drawing of something small from the natural world — a seed, feather, shell, stone, leaf, bud, or insect. Add words around it that describe what it evokes in you.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Friday Fun on Purpose
2026-05-29
Friday Fun on Purpose: Try a Tiny First
Trying something new does not have to mean making a big commitment, buying special equipment, or being “good” at it. This Friday, give yourself permission to try a tiny first: listen to a new kind of music, sketch with your non-dominant hand, learn one dance step, cook with an unfamiliar spice, try a simple nature craft, take a different walking route, play a game you’ve never played, or ask someone to teach you something they enjoy.
Novelty can wake up curiosity, playfulness, and connection. The goal is not mastery — it is simply to give your brain and spirit a fresh little spark.
Try this: Choose one small, low-pressure thing you’ve never done before. Keep it short. Let it be imperfect. Notice how it feels to be a beginner on purpose

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!

Inspirational Quote
2026-05-30
“Clinging to the past is the problem. Embracing change is the answer.” – Gloria Steinem

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!
