Category: Events

I attended this library program in person, and it was great! It was chock full of information about mental health and the benefits of being happy. We even did a few minutes of laughter yoga together! Did you know that the brain can’t tell the difference between real and forced laughter? So the “laughing” we did during yoga actually helped improve our moods!

The Benefits of Laughter

• Reduces stress
• Boosts immune system
• Improves mood
• Promotes relaxation
• Enhances social connections

The presenter spoke about positivity and happiness and the ancient people who studied it – Buddha, Confucius, Socrates and Aristotle. She then mentioned Abraham Maslow who took a look at happiness and fulfillment through positive psychology in 1954.

Martin Seligman is a modern psychologist who says to “stop trying to undo the negative, and just focus on the positive,” and came up with the 5 foundations of wellbeing: positive emotions, engagement, meaning, positive relationships and accomplishments.

The presenter said that 40% of your happiness comes from your own efforts! Positive emotions improve heart health, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and boosts immune the system.

Little Steps to Bigger Joy

• Connect With Nature
  • Sit outside
  • Take a walk
  • Get houseplants
• Establish Complaint-Free Zones
  • With certain people
  • At certain meals
• Reflect on Joyful Memories
  • Focus on the moments that bring us joy – who was there, what did you learn etc.
  • Do soemthing nice for no reason – helps them and helps us, too!
• Maintain Positive Relationships
  • People with strong, meaningful relationships are happier & healthier
• Explore Your Spiritual Side
  • Reduces stress etc.
• Choose Joy
  • Put your mind to it!
• Learn Something New
  • Learn a new skill, or go to programs at the library!
• Listen to Beautiful Music
  • Great for the nervous system
• Exercise
  • Treats symptoms of so many health issues and it’s a mood booster
• Practice Gratitude
  • Count your blessings!
• Make Art
  • 30 minutes two times a week gives your cognitive benefits, mood boost
  • Examples: reading or adult coloring
• Feed Your Mood
  • Eat what increases joy – chicken, tuna, oatmeal, fruit, nuts, yogurt, salmon, tryptophan.

Resources

• Visitfinland.com – Finland is the happiest place on Earth!
• Actionforhappiness.org
• Psychology & the Good Life – online course to take through Yale

Reflection:
I loved this program and I loved that we got to take home the two-week gratitude journal. I’ve been doing it, and I think it’s wonderful! I think I’ll continue in a journal after the two weeks are up.

A Taste of Korea

This two-hour long program was hosted by Korean women who made us a home-cooked Korean meal. First, they gave a presentation about the health benefits of Korean food, and demonstrated how to make two dishes. They also showed a short film on the culture and history of Korea. We ate a ton of delicious traditional Korean food in the traditional bowls they used. They also gave out free books and recipes of Korean food. I really enjoyed this program!

Sushi Making Workshop

A sushi chef from one of the local restaurants brought all cooked ingredients to make sushi. We got to use all the food, and made five different types of sushi rolls. Mine kind of looks like a mess, and I forgot to take a photo of it after he cut it up for me into little pieces. But, I tried my best! It still tasted amazing and look at all that free sushi!

Reflections
I have to admit, whenever there’s a program with food, I’m there. Especially when I get to learn about cultures and histories other than my own. I highly enjoyed these programs!

I attended this library program with two of my friends. We sat at tables together and the presenter spoke, and then we broke into small groups to do an activity. The presenter asked us to go around the room and share one thing about our health that we’re struggling with and one thing we feel good about.

We talked about common health concerns for women:

• Stress
• Weight
• Hormones
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Autoimmune
• Chronic fatigue

Then we spoke about causes of women’s health issues:

• Emotional/mental
• Societal
• Physical

For physical, our mini group spoke about sleep and how we don’t get enough of it. Because of this, we don’t feel energized, we’re more prone to sickness and inflammation. We also suffer from doing too many things, and having difficulty managing our time.

For emotional and mental, another group discussed the app “Meet Up” where you can socialize, find people with similar interests and find support groups. You can also do this on Facebook or at the library. They said it’s a good idea to take up meditation or a hobby, and to set a timer for using apps on your phone, like scrolling social media.

And last, for societal, the group mentioned family members taking advantage and not having good communication.

Some ideas to help you are to:

• Pray or have a gratitude journal
• Set boundaries or say no
• Negotiate
• Make decisions about what you will or won’t do
• Surround yourself with positive influences
• Prioritize self-care, sleep and protein!
• Stacking habit – start a new habit when you’re already doing an old habit

Reflections:
I’m glad I went to this program because I learned a lot of good health tips for people in general, and I plan on using them for myself in the near future. I love going to programs like this because they really provide great free information on health!

This program was held in person at the library, and I attended with my dad. It took place in a special room they called “the Igloo.” It was my first time in that room, and I thought it was really cool because the movie they showed, which was made by a librarian, was projected on three of the four walls of the room we were sitting in, so it was a completely immersive experience.

It was a documentary about the history of Grand Central Station in NYC, and the history of the railroad beginning in the 1800s to the present day.

Regarding Grand Central, the librarian touched on the whispering wall, the dirty spot on the ceiling they left from after they cleaned it to show how dirty it used to be, and also how the constellations above are backward. He also talked about when Jackie Kennedy saved Grand Central from an untimely demise.

At the end of the presentation, the librarian took questions, and pulled up Google Earth on the screen. He showed us how everything is now 3-D, and you can actually see the buildings how they are in real life. Pretty awesome!

Reflections:
I thought this program was very neat, and I learned a lot about the history of the railroad. I already knew a bunch about the secrets of Grand Central, but it was cool to hear them again. I’m glad I attended this program, and would definitely go back to see another movie or documentary when they show it in the Igloo.

Oscar Winning Songs

This program was virtual and took place over Zoom. I didn’t enjoy it that much because it was mostly movies and songs from way back in the day (old movies, from like, the 1930s and 40s) and I only recognized Somewhere Over the Rainbow from “The Wizard of Oz.” So, I couldn’t connect with most of it, and ended up turning it off, unfortunately. I felt bad, but I just wasn’t into it.

Open Mic Night/Poetry Slam

This program also took place over Zoom, and I went, not intending to share any poetry of my own. I felt a little uncomfortable because I quickly found out this was clearly a monthly program where the same people show up and know each other, and I was the newbie. I told them I was just there to listen/watch, and enjoyed some of the original poetry. But, it ended up being two hours long, and I turned this one off as well.

Reflections:
Both of these programs ended up being flops!

Recently, I signed up for a bunch – I mean a bunch – of free library programs at a few libraries near me. Since my schedule has recently opened up, I decided to take advantage, and said to myself: “why not?” Here and in the coming blog posts, I’ll write my thoughts on the library programs I’ll attend. The Tibetan sound healing and mental health and wellness programs are two that I attended in February.

Tibetan Sound Healing

I attended this program in person, and I was lucky enough to also be accompanied by my aunt, uncle and cousins. I’d never done this before, but heard about it. The woman who did it played the bowls at different frequencies, and we all laid out on our yoga mats, starting out in any position that we wanted. I started on my back with my legs bent, and I was glad I did because my back had started hurting two days prior. I was still in pain the day of the program even though I had gone to an acupuncture session the first day of the pain. During the program, I ended up shifting positions and laid on my side, which helped my back a lot, especially since the yoga mat wasn’t nearly padded enough for my back! At the end of the program, the presenter gave us all some moringa oil, and I thought it smelled so good! Now I am on the hunt to buy some (but I have to find some pure oil that isn’t so expensive!)

Reflection:
I liked this program a lot and would definitely go back if I had the chance. I thought it was very relaxing (except for the back pain) and I liked the musical aspect of it as well. I’m glad I gave it a try!

Mindfulness & Mental Wellness Workshop

This program took place virtually, through a local library, on Zoom. They hired a psychologist to lead the program, and she spoke about the importance of mindfulness for one’s mental health. She told us that mindfulness means awareness and openness, strengthens the brain, is an accessible practice, reduces stress and anxiety, and is rooted in Buddhism.

The therapist also discussed the mental health benefits of mindfulness:

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves emotional regulation
• Enhances our focus
• Helps us stay present and engaged
• Supports better sleep
• Builds self-compassion

Also, she told us about some mindfulness practices to help us when in distress:

• Box Breathing (breath can regulate emotions)
  • Inhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, exhale for 4, and repeat
• Body Scan
  • Observe and create a shift – listen to your body’s wisdom
  • Tension and stress aren’t just mental
• The Mind-Body Feedback Loop
  • “Your issues are your tissues”
  • Say to yourself repeatedly: “I am safe, I can let go”
• Journaling – Pennebaker Method
  • Engages language centers
  • Lowers cortisol levels
  • 15-20 minutes of uninterrupted writing

Takeaways:
Mindfulness is a trainable skill, and it’s flexible! Breath work regulates stress and body awareness reduces tension. Movement disrupts emotional stagnation, and journaling provides insight.

Reflection:
I thought this therapist was great, and this program was a refresher course for me, because I’ve been learning about mindfulness, therapy practices and meditation for years. I’m by no means an expert, and I love reminding myself about the practices of mindfulness and how good they are for my mental health.