Welcome back and hello to a brand new year and Healthy Minds News! Every mind matters. Let's make 2024 the year they all thrive. 

Healthy Minds News is here with fresh inspiration and a commitment to support the mental health and wellness of children and youth. Each month, we plan to bring you helpful information and resources with tips and strategies to keep our children and youth thriving!

Speaking of helpful tools, let's talk about the power of gratitude! The simple act of finding something good, even in difficult moments, can shield against stress, boost happiness, and build positive relationships. It's like a secret sauce to positive well-being!

Here are some easy ways to weave gratitude into your family's daily life:

Small starts:
•    Fill a gratitude jar: Decorate a jar and throughout the day, have each family member write down something they are grateful for, big or small. It could be a funny moment, a delicious meal, or simply the feeling of warm sunshine on your skin. Watch the jar brim with happiness as the weeks go by! On days when you and your loved ones feel stressed or stuck, read from the gratitude jar as a reminder of what you value and a gratitude that you connected with before.
•    "I Spy" gratitude: Turn a classic game into a gratitude scavenger hunt. Take turns saying, "I spy something I'm grateful for that's..." and complete the sentence with something you see in the house, like "a cozy blanket" or "a family photo that makes me smile."

Gratitude routine:
•    "High five, low five, thank you for the day alive!": Start or end your day with this silly but sweet ritual. Stand in a circle, high five each other, then low five, and finish by saying something you're grateful for that day.
•    Dinnertime highlights: During dinner, share your "gratitude headlines" for the day. Just like a news report, take turns announcing something good that happened to you. This is a great way to connect and celebrate even the little wins.

Creative gratitude:
•    Thank-you notes: Write thank-you notes to the people who make your life brighter, whether it's a teacher, a friend, or even a furry pet. Expressing your appreciation is a gift in itself.
•    Gratitude drawings: Grab some colored pencils and paper and let your creativity flow! Draw pictures of things you're grateful for, or even create a family gratitude mural together.
•    Sing a gratitude song: Make up your own silly song about all the things you love about your family and home. Bonus points for goofy dance moves!

Engaging activities:
•    Keep a gratitude journal: Write down 3-5 things you are grateful for each day, no matter how small. This simple practice can significantly boost our overall well-being.
•    Create a gratitude board: This visual reminder can serve as a daily dose of positivity. Collect pictures, quotes, or objects that symbolize things your family is grateful for.
•    Start a "Random Acts of Kindness" challenge: Motivate family members to perform small acts of kindness for others, anonymously or openly. Witnessing the impact of our actions can be an empowering way to experience gratitude.

Building connections:
•    Express gratitude directly: Verbally express appreciation to the people in your life. A heartfelt "thank you" can make a world of difference while strengthening bonds and cultivating a positive atmosphere.
•    Engage in service: Volunteering time and talents to a cause you care about can be a powerful way to connect with your community and appreciate your own blessings.

Remember, cultivating gratitude is a journey, not a destination. There will be ups and downs, but when making use of the power of gratitude, you are planting a seed of happiness that will blossom into a lifetime of well-being for your family.

Continue to check the Healthy Minds News for fresh tips, resources, and general support. We hope you have a happy and healthy New Year filled with many reasons to be grateful!

The Healthy Minds Blog shares information related to youth mental health and wellness for an audience of parent, educators and community-based providers. Articles include tips and strategies for increasing wellness and resiliency, as well as fostering success at home, at school and in the community.

The Healthy Minds Blog is a collaborative project between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Prevention Unit of the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. It is part of the Healthy Minds Fairfax (see below) initiative, designed to support emotional wellness in youth and families.

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If you or someone you care about is in crisis or needs help, TAKE ACTION! 

• Call or text 988 the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• Contact Fairfax County CSB Emergency/Crisis Services (703) 573-5679 
• Contact CSB for outpatient Walk-in assessments, please call ahead (703) 383-8500
• Go to the nearest emergency room 
• Contact Children’s Regional Crisis Response (CR2) (571) 364-7390
• Call 911