EMPOWERING MINDS MESSENGER
MARCH 2020
March is here, and we're only a couple weeks away from daylight savings time! This month, Empowering Minds celebrates Women's History Month and the beginning of Spring. Below you'll find Women's History Month Events in Baltimore City/County and Anne Arundel County, a helpful article on Spring and mental health, and agency news, and events.
During the month of March, we give a little extra attention to all of the amazing accomplishments of strong, determined women. Since 1987, the United States has formally recognized March as National Women’s History Month. Every woman has a story to tell and gifts to share with the world. So get ready, because this month is about honoring magnificent ladies, and we are ready to celebrate it to the fullest.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Put it in writing
Think of a woman you look up to and admire. She can be someone in your personal life or a public figure. Write her a letter describing the impact she has had on your life. Your thoughtful gesture is sure to be appreciated.
Have a girl's lunch
Lunch, breakfast dinner—it doesn’t matter. Grab your granny, cousin Cheryl, or great-aunt Mimi and grab a bite to eat. Having the chance to spend some one-on-one time with the lovely ladies in your life is a great way to reconnect and remind them how much they mean to you. Who knows, she may even tell some interesting stories you’ve never heard before.
Study up on women's history
There are some excellent museums dedicated entirely to the accomplishments of women. If you don’t happen to live near one of these places, many venues set up special exhibits during National Women’s History Month.
Facts About International Women's Day
For more than 100 years, March 8th has marked what has come to be known as International Women's Day in countries around the world. While its purpose differs from place to place—in some countries it's a day of protest, in others it's a way to celebrate the accomplishments of women and promote gender equality—the holiday is more than just a simple hashtag. 

THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALLY ADOPTED INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN 1975.

In 1975, the United Nations—which had dubbed the year International Women's Year—celebrated International Women's Day on March 8th for the first time. Since then, the UN has become the  primary sponsor  of the annual event and has encouraged even more countries around the world to embrace the holiday and its goal of celebrating "acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities."
MACC Mujeres Abriendo Caminos Cerrados en tu Biblioteca
Tues. Mar. 13, 6:30 pm
1410 West St.
Annapolis Regional Library

Únete con otras mujeres de la comunidad para discutir el tema de la autoestima, y la confianza e infórmate sobre recursos relacionados con la violencia doméstica. Connect with women of the community to discuss self-esteem and confidence, and learn about resources for victims of domestic violence. 

Patrocinador: Facilitadores Bilingües de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado / Sponsor: AACPS Bilingual Facilitators Programa en español / Program in Spanish
Mouths Don't Speak - Author Visit
Sat., Mar. 3, 2 p.m.
1275 Green Holly Dr.
Broadneck Community Library

Haitian born fiction author Katia D. Ulysses will present her powerful novel “Mouths Don’t Speak,” a harrowing journey into national and personal devastation that threatens to rip a family apart following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Women's Day Out at the Glen Burnie Regional Library
Sat. Mar. 24, 11 a.m.
1010 Eastway
Glen Burnie Regional Library

Tired? Take a break…Enjoy a Zumba session, learn useful nutrition tips, and relax with a short meditation. This day is just for you!
Who wants to be an astronaut?
Sat., Mar. 24, 3 pm
1681 Riedel Rd.
Crofton Community Library

Blast off with award winning actress and Smithsonian Scholar Mary Ann Jung as she presents America’s first female astronaut in “SALLY RIDE – WHO WANTS TO BE AN ASTRONAUT?” Learn about Dr. Sally Ride’s journey and challenges, then participate in a space shuttle themed game show for out of this world fun!
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS MARCH 8TH, 2020
The Psychological Effects of Spring: Make the Most of the New Year
Spring brings with it sunny days, warmer temperatures and a sense of hope. What does spring have to offer, and how does it affect our minds and bodies?

1. Sunlight
Sunlight affects our brain chemistry, which in turn influences our mood and how we feel physically. Exposure to sunlight affects our serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has a tremendous impact on our bodies. It plays a role in not only our general mood but also our sleep pattern, memory, appetite and sexual desire. Lack of sunlight can lead to a drop in serotonin, which can make sleep difficult, change how much we want to eat and how our body processes what we do eat and negatively affect sexual desire and function. The lengthening days of spring can start to reverse that serotonin dip.
Sunlight also affects the brain’s production of the hormone melatonin, which is released in greater levels when it is dark out. This hormone helps us sleep. When we get less sunlight, our bodies tend to produce more melatonin, hence the sluggish feeling you often encounter during the darker months of winter.
Light from the sun also plays a large role in getting your body the vitamin D it needs. When our skin comes into contact with ultraviolet rays from the sun, our bodies produce vitamin D, which helps keep bones strong and healthy.
Overall, getting more sunshine helps our bodies feel more awake and puts us in a better mood. Just remember, you still need to wear sunscreen and stay properly hydrated when you spend hours outside on a spring day.
2. Warmer Weather
Many of us feel more active during the warmer months. You don’t have to put on so many clothes that you feel like you’re wearing battle armor every time you step outside. During the spring, you can throw on a light jacket or no extra layers at all on nicer days.
Rising temperatures also give our immune systems a break. During the winter, we have to contend with cold and flu season. Everywhere you go someone seems to be coughing, sneezing or sniffling. Our immune systems are working overtime doing the best they can to keep us healthy and warm during the cold months. When the days start to get warmer, our body doesn’t have to commit as much energy to keeping our immune systems in overdrive.
Warmer weather can also affect our mindset. Some studies suggest that spending time outside in a warmer climate is  linked to an increase in creativity. Spring is usually a time of temperate weather. You can enjoy the benefits of the warmth without sweltering heat that may come later.

3. A Time for New Beginnings
The spring season has long been considered a symbol of renewal and hope. After months of dreary, cold weather, the world starts to come alive with color and warmth. New plants start growing from the earth. Sunshine brings more light into the world.You can seize this feeling of hope and use it to fuel your optimism and, as it turns out, health. A study of more than 5,100 adults conducted by the University of Illinois found that optimists were  76 percent more likely to have blood sugar and cholesterol in a healthy range.
Embrace spring as your perennial opportunity for change and personal growth. Optimism can help you become more engaged in your life and see failure as a chance for a fresh start. Allowing yourself to hope opens you up to new experiences and ideas. Let spring be the start of your commitment to healthy habits.
6 Ways to Spring Clean Your Mind

Springtime often inspires us to declutter our homes and yards -- and exposes the cobwebs and dust bunnies that have been collecting during the winter months. It’s also a good time to consider cleaning out our mental and emotional spaces: our thoughts and feelings.
Just as it feels good to walk into an organized closet or enjoy a sparkling hardwood floor, a mental spring-cleaning can provide a boost and a sense of relief and accomplishment. Here’s a mental and emotional spring-cleaning checklist to help you get started!

1. Cultivate Quiet Time
Plan some alone time to take an internal inventory and identify what has been cluttering your heart and mind. Meditation, prayer, hiking and  yoga  are excellent examples of external acts that promote internal reflection and allow time to tune in to your inner world. Take a planned break from technology and spend time visualizing how you want to feel in your life and in your relationships.

2. Jot It in a Journal
Putting pen to paper and identifying your thoughts and emotions helps clear out your emotional space, make emotions seem more manageable and gives you a different perspective. You may not realize how cluttered your insides have become until you start articulating them.
Emotions (E-motions) are “energy in motion” and they are designed to move through you, not to stay stuck in your body. Next time you feel emotionally burdened  write it down . In my therapy practice, I keep a stack of small notebooks to give away to clients as “homework” assignments, in which they can practice identifying and expressing thoughts and feelings.
Ask yourself: What am I thinking about right now? What am I feeling right now? Where do I experience that feeling in my body?

3. Give Up a Grudge
Releasing your grip on a gripe can free up emotional energy that you can then invest in other, more positive areas of your life. I’ve heard it said that holding onto resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. While having a range of emotions, including anger and hurt, is normal, letting those feelings take up permanent residence in your heart ultimately hurts you.

A recent couple I worked with realized the power of giving up a grudge. The wife kept bringing up how angry she was when her husband was quiet and how he “froze” when she was upset. She was resentful and hopeless until she realized her husband’s silence stemmed from his fear of making things worse, not because he didn’t care about her.
Ask yourself: Am I holding on to past hurt that I’d be willing to let go of? Why do I still hold on to this resentment?

4. Offer an Apology
If you feel unsettled about something you’ve said or done to another person, offer a sincere apology to clear the air. Even if it was unintentional on your part, a generous and heartfelt apology can remove unnecessary discomfort inside of you and repair damaged connections with others. I can attest to the relief that comes from taking ownership of a mistake or misstep. A few months ago I spoke with a friend about a lingering misunderstanding between us and owned up to my insensitivity. Though it was a fairly minor incident, I didn’t realize until it was resolved how much space it was taking in my internal life.
Ask yourself: Is there someone in my life that, when I see them, I feel awkwardness about something I’ve said or done? Am I willing to apologize for my part in the miscommunication or hurt feelings?

5. Forgive Your Faults
Often, it is easier to overlook other’s faults than it is to let go of your own shortcomings. Over time it’s easy to collect evidence for negative self-evaluations like, “I am never good enough” or “I’m always putting my foot in my mouth” or “See! I’m not good at relationships.” Dwelling on your past mistakes or clutters the present and leads to self-critical thoughts and feelings. Humans aren’t inspired to do better by criticism, and this applies to self-criticism. How freeing it is to acknowledge that you will make mistakes and have weaknesses as a human, but that it is possible to learn from personal experiences and still maintain a sense of self-acceptance. When my therapy clients are able to achieve this self-acceptance in spite of their own weakness, I call this becoming an “emotional grown-up”
Ask yourself: Is there something that I’ve said or done, or a trait that I don’t like about myself that seems to clutter my mind?

6. Tell Your Truth
A willingness to be emotionally honest with those we love can deepen our connections and allow our loved ones to offer support and encouragement to us. Recently, a young adult therapy client discovered when she “told the truth” to her parents she not only felt relieved but it also improved her relationships with them. If you are afraid that being more emotionally honest in your relationships will hurt them, think again. Not sharing your truth for long periods of time leads to emotional build up that eventually erupts, causing further breakdowns in communication and relationship break-ups. The emotional eruption does far more damage to relationships than speaking your truth all along the way.
Ask yourself: When someone asks me how I’m doing, do I say that “I’m fine” even when I’m not?
Baltimore City Groups
Mondays 6-7 PM 
Women's Group, Teen's Group, and Youth Group
Tuesdays 6-7 PM
Men's Group
Anne Arundel County Groups
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Empowering Minds Resource Center is proud to announce there is currently  NO WAIT LIST at the agency. We work hard everyday to ensure referrals are quickly processed and clients are engaged by our staff and partnered therapists immediately. We are ready, willing and able to accept new clients TODAY.  
NOW ACCEPTING HARFORD COUNTY REFERRALS

Empowering Minds Resource Center has no waitlist for our CARE COORDINATION FOR MINORS and our PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION PROGRAM in Harford County
Empowering Minds recognizes Wade McLaughlin as the Direct Service Coordinator of the Month.   Congratulations,  !
WE'RE HIRING!

Empowering Minds is looking to add some new members to our wonderful team. Check out the link below for more information!