This week we had our spring storm, it snowed and snowed and snowed. It was so great, we stayed inside most of the time Netflixing, playing games and enjoying the break.

I was driving home from one of my many travels and noticed it was almost 9pm and it was still light outside. I love the longer days and soon the greenery that will suddenly appear. Spring brings with it the beginnings of light and growth into this world. So very grateful.

Love this cartoon......

My colleagues and friends, Collete Elko and Verna Wittigo, work in Health Promotion in High Prairie, Alberta. The week of May 1st-5th, 2017 is Mental Health Week. They are planning some sessions for that week and invited me to participate. I am so looking forward to this. I will be presenting a new workshop I developed called Health, Hope and Healing. It is about Mental Health but from a positive perspective. This is about what helps a person and the strategies that might be beneficial.
I am working on some positive workshops and I am pleased to say that this will be one of them. Once I have piloted this workshop a couple of times. I will be offering to the public on a regular basis...yay!

CMHA-Edmonton Region has some workshops that I will be facilitating this spring. The first, in a series of three, is a workshop called Little Cub. If you work with Indigenous children, this is the workshop for you. Please go to the CMHA Edmonton Region website to register. Thanks!!

Little Cub is a 1-day, discussion-based workshop examining suicide prevention in Indigenous children and communities.

The Little Cub Workshop draws heavily on storytelling and oral tradition. It begins by recognizing the unique precipitating factors of suicide in Indigenous communities and moves through to identifying risk and protective factors in children 12 years of age and younger. The workshop finishes by empowering participants with knowledge and tools to transfer the care of a child at risk of suicide to a community-based resource person.

It is recommended that participants of this workshop also attend the 2-day ASIST workshop for skills-based suicide intervention training.

Workshop Topics include:

• Story of Indigenous Experiences
• Conversations and Understanding
• Protective and Risk Factors
  
• Responding with Hope
  
• Understanding More
  

AudienceAges 18+
This workshop provides information and offers practical approaches for those working with Indigenous children who may be at risk of suicide. The precipitating factors of suicide are different in Indigenous communities than in the general population.

Information provided is appropriate for beginner and intermediate social work practice.

Certificate

All participants will receive a participation certificate upon completing 7 hours of instruction.

Workshop Dates
April 18, 2017, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Fee
$175.00 per person

I found this article "10 mindsets that will help you become successful" by Ludovica Tronci and it makes great sense to me. I believe the way we see ourselves and our ability to cope in a healthy way makes all the difference. I hope they make sense to you too....enjoy.

1. Take Risks
No one succeeds by just staying cozy in their own comfort zone. Be brave, stand up for what you believe in and take risks when you need to.

2. Set Your Goals And Act With A Purpose
Once you know what the ending result is and what you’re working for, remember to always act with a purpose. Once you have a clear vision of your goals it is easier to stay focused.

3. Choose Courage
Always choose courage over fear. You don’t know what you’re really capable of if you constantly refrain yourself and set your own boundaries.

4. Don’t Mind The Others
Everybody is walking their own path at their own pace. Don’t think about what the others are achieving, and why they’re achieving it earlier than you. Focus on yourself instead and put all your determination into your project.

5. Choose Good Company
Surround yourself with successful and ambitious people that share your same mindsets. They can only lift you higher.

6. Don’t Panic
No one truly knows what they’re capable of, nonetheless, they try and give it a shot. No one really knows their ceiling so if you think you’ve set the bar too high, don’t panic about it but instead prove everyone (yourself included) wrong.

7. Do The Right Thing
Success is not really about doing every single thing right but instead, it’s about doing the right thing. Choose an area of focus, work hard on getting results and don’t think about the rest. Not everything has to be perfect.

8. Fake It ‘Til You Make It
Confidence is always a good choice. Be proud of your choices, think big and one-day success will knock on your door. But first, you have to believe in what you’re doing.

9. Choose What Matters To You
Success requires dedication so once you’ve set your goals, dedicate to them all the time needed. It’s certainly not going to be easy at the beginning and you will have to make sacrifices but it will all be worth it.

10. Be Grateful
Gratitude is what will bring you far in life. When you’re upset and are not achieving a result, look back at your past and think about all you’ve done to be in the position that you’re in. Be positive, proud of your choices and grateful.