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Cultivating Mindfulness

Posted on by Dr. Sue Swearer

It’s been great to read your feedback on our blog. Several of you mentioned being interested in the concept of mindfulness and the challenges of practicing mindfulness when the busyness of life gets in the way.

As I was thinking about this mindfulness blog, everywhere I looked I saw resources for mindfulness! It was as if the universe was telling me that this was a timely blog to write. I also took some time to reflect on my background—my father is a professor of Asian religions, specifically an expert in Theravada Buddhism. I grew up going to school in Thailand during his sabbatical years and we were often around Buddhist monks, who are certainly experts in practicing mindfulness! So, I’m particularly interested in how all of us can practice mindfulness in our daily lives—especially when our lives are hectic, filled with noise, challenges, hundreds of emails and pings from social media, work and school pressures, and the myriad of life’s issues that can impede our ability to stop….quiet our minds….and practice mindfulness.

The good news is that there are many resources to help us all understand and practice mindfulness. As Jerry Braza writes, “mindfulness is the practice of becoming fully aware of each moment and one’s experiences of that moment.” In his book, Moment by moment, Dr. Braza shares ten strategies for developing mindfulness in work, school, and home:

  1. Let go
  2. Open your heart
  3. Simplify
  4. Forgive
  5. Be mindful
  6. Breathe!
  7. Speak from your heart
  8. Think health
  9. Appreciate others
  10. Look deeply

Another book that I’ve found particularly helpful is Manuela Reeds’ book, 8 keys to practicing mindfulness: Practical strategies for emotional health and well-being. In this book, Manuela shares these 8 strategies:

  1. Meet the present moment
  2. Start where you are
  3. Slow down
  4. Befriend your body
  5. Trust your sensations, tame your emotions
  6. Ride through tough times
  7. Cultivate inner calmness
  8. Choose abundance

These two books are really great roadmaps for cultivating mindfulness. As I was contemplating writing this blog, I received an email invitation to join Oprah and Deepak’s 21-day meditation experience starting on July 13th (https://chopracentermeditation.com). This is a wonderful opportunity to learn to practice mindfulness, led by Deepak Chopra. Won’t you join me?

With Gratitude,
Dr. Sue

Taking A Stand To End Child Hunger

Posted on by Born This Way Foundation Team

Growing up there were things I “wanted” but nothing that I ever “needed”.  I wanted a second helping of spaghetti at dinner. I wanted extra hot fudge on my ice cream for dessert, but I was never in need of any food to eat. Many people are aware of hunger outside of the United States; however, we are often unaware that it’s an issue in our own backyard.

Over 20 million students are entitled to free or reduced breakfasts and lunches in public schools across the U.S. These are often their only meals and during the summer, these kids are even less likely to eat regularly. In addition to the obvious health issues associated with hunger, there is also a stigma that surrounds receiving free or reduced meals at school; which I have witnessed first-hand.

A student I worked with this past year received free lunch daily. He was the youngest of four boys and came to school hungry almost every day. He went to the nurse numerous times throughout the year due to stomach pains and he ate everything that was given to him, even the vegetables, a rarity for any 4th grade student!

One afternoon, I overheard another student ask him why his mom never makes him lunch. I watched his face drop as he quietly responded, “My brothers eat all our food.” While the other student was not fazed by the conversation, this child was visibly embarrassed and uncomfortable.

This type of embarrassment is not uncommon for students who come from struggling families and can lead to serious anxiety. It also represents another reason we need to address the issue of childhood hunger in our own neighborhoods and schools. In a country where 1 in 5 students live in households that do not have consistent access to food, it is time to take a stand and put an end to childhood hunger.

Want to help? Here are some ways that you can work to end child hunger in your area:

  1. Donate any extra food you have in your home.
  2. Work with your community to start a community garden that provides fresh fruit and vegetables to local community centers or families in need.
  3. Volunteer at local food pantries, kitchens and centers.
  4. Start a food drive in your school or community.
  5. Educate others about childhood hunger, healthy eating and summer meal programs.

Check out these awesome websites that are working to fight childhood hunger in America for more ways to get involved!

http://www.childhungerendshere.com/

www.nokidhungry.org/

Today’s guest blog comes from Samantha Hanson. She is a graduate student from New Jersey studying psychology. Currently, she works as a teaching aide in an elementary school.  She works with Born This Way Foundation on a variety of issues including the Emotion Revolution.

 

One Step Closer to a Kinder, Braver, More Equal World

Posted on by Born This Way Foundation Team

This past Friday, June 26th I was sitting in my office, unable to concentrate on anything and anxiously refreshing my browser every few seconds. I was reading the live feed on SCOTUSblog to see what decisions the Supreme Court was announcing that day and if it would include the Obergfell  v. Hodges case on same-sex marriage.

When I saw the words “it’s marriage” appear on the live feed, followed by a short sentence saying that same-sex marriage was now legal across the country, I was stunned. I had gone from nervously trembling with anticipation to being completely still. Even though it was widely speculated that the ruling would come down this way, it was still an incredible moment.

Being that I live and work in Washington, D.C., I was lucky to be able to leave my office and take a cab down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Supreme Court building and join the rally outside. Even though I got there after the decision had been announced, there was still a jubilant crowd. Old and younger, straight and queer, single and married (now in every state), religious and non-theists, we all excitedly celebrated what had up until very recently, seemed unlikely. It was an astonishing opportunity to see a community so diverse in so many ways come together on such an historic day.

What kept coming to the front of my mind, however, was just how momentous this decision was to the people who have been fighting for marriage equality and to end discrimination for decades. It was moving, beyond words, to see people in the crowd on the steps of the Supreme Court who had spent decades fighting for marriage equality and who now saw that come to fruition for the whole country.

I was moved by my friend and her wife whose marriage, while valid in D.C., was ignored each time they went home to visit their family or traveled to any state that didn’t recognize their union. I thought of mentors, past and present, who fought against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” lobbied against the Defense of Marriage Act in the 90’s to no avail, and helped elect LBGT leaders to office. They got the momentum started and they began the work to change the hearts and minds of people across the country.

Coincidentally, New York City Pride fell this past weekend as well and I had made plans several months prior to attend with friends. It was sure to be even more exciting given the recent news, and the festivities didn’t disappoint. Walking by the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, where the Stonewall Riots took place and started the movement for LGBT rights, the feeling was electric. No less celebratory than the steps of the Supreme Court, and no less historic, this Pride weekend was the first opportunity for the LGBT community to finally celebrate a victory long in the making.

As the saying goes, we stand on the shoulders of giants, and that couldn’t be truer in the fight for marriage equality. For me, this was more than my eventual ability to marry someone I love regardless of sex. This was the righting of a wrong. For no reason other than the timing of when I was born, I have grown up in a world that has become ever increasingly tolerant of the LGBT community. But that wasn’t the case for the generations before who put up with and bravely fought discrimination and exclusion. This decision, coincidentally coming on the heels of Pride Month celebrations, is thanks to the activists who have fought long and hard even when it seemed futile. And while the LGBT community still has significant challenges to overcome, ranging from employment non-discrimination to ending violence against trans people, this major step towards equality is nonetheless cause for celebration and a reason to be proud.

 

jb2014 James currently lives in Washington, DC where he works in non-profit fundraising, development and external communications. He has extensive experience in social justice and progressive advocacy including health care accessibility, LGBT electoral politics, and K-12 and higher  education. He is a proud alumnus of Arizona State University and enjoys running, crossfit and his monthly gay book club meetings.

 

Making the #EmotionRevolution Part of Pride

Posted on by Born This Way Foundation Team

Pride month falls every June and presents an opportunity to recognize the contributions that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community (LGBT) has made throughout history. Whether through presidential statements or parades, Pride is about embracing our identities, breaking down stigmas, and promoting acceptance of people for who they are.  And it is undeniable that the LGBT community has made tremendous progress in a relatively short amount of time that is certainly cause for celebration.

Youth in particular have played a large role in bringing about such acceptance, and serve as an important indicator in the progress we have made so far. According to research by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), roughly 90% of young people are out to their friends, and 64% are out at school. These are remarkable numbers. Not to sound old, but when I was in high school I could count the number of “out” students on one hand – and I wasn’t one of them.

But we’ve still got our work cut out for us. The same research done by HRC showed that 92% of young people hear negative or disparaging comments about LGBT people while at school, on the internet or from their peers, and 42% report that their communities aren’t accepting of LGBT individuals. Even more alarming is the fact that LGBT youth report facing physical threats and harm twice as often as their straight counterparts. Bullying, whether online or at school, is clearly still a problem that needs addressing.

This juxtaposition between LGBT youth embracing their identities and sharing it with their peers, and the threats and harm they face in school as a result of it, is exactly why we need the Emotion Revolution. By engaging high school students around social and emotional learning (SEL), Born This Way Foundation and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence will help empower youth to bring about positive change in their schools, create safe learning environments, and see that SEL is a priority in their classrooms and communities. When students feel safe in their learning environment, empathize with the feelings and emotions of others, and build meaningful relationships with one another, we can ensure that young people, LGBT and otherwise, can lead happy and healthy lives.

So as we wrap up Pride month this year, be sure to not only celebrate the progress the LGBT community has made so far, but also join the #EmotionRevolution and do your part to help create safe learning environments for all youth across the country.

 

jb2014 James currently lives in Washington, DC where he works in non-profit fundraising, development and external communications. He has extensive experience in social justice and progressive advocacy including health care accessibility, LGBT electoral politics, and K-12 and higher  education. He is a proud alumnus of Arizona State University and enjoys running, crossfit and his monthly gay book club meetings.