Dear Wellness Community,
Transitions, change, adapting and new ways of being are all now familiar themes for us. As health care professionals, you have continued to work tirelessly during this global pandemic. Thank you! While there has been physical distancing, we have also learned new ways to connect through virtual platforms.
With all this happening, we also experienced a very painful last few weeks with racial violence directed at our black citizens, images of police brutality and widespread protests throughout our communities and beyond. We find ourselves at the crossroads of mixed emotions—anxiety, anger, dismay, disgust and profound grief at the horrific happenings. We may also feel hopeful and thankful as we celebrate milestones such as family celebrations, weddings, and graduations. Congratulations to all of you who will be part of celebrations! You did it!
It can seem very challenging to hold and balance differing emotions at the same time. How do we take care of ourselves, people we love and care about while we take a stand against systemic racism? Can we support our black friends and colleagues by checking in with them as we build our own awareness and find resources?
Be sure to take the time to care for your own needs. Continue to spend time doing what you like whether it is cooking, ordering take out from your favorite restaurant, flying a kite, hiking, facetiming your special people, sleeping in after a busy work week/day, watching a show you like.
GME Wellness is here to support you. Please reach out to our Wellness team if you want to talk about what’s on your mind.
This week’s Wellness Corner authored by:
Dipti Chrastka, LMFT
GME Wellness Director
Monday – Friday at Harborview
206.744.0655
diptic@uw.edu
Wellness Corner Quick Links
Contents
Black Lives Matter: Talking about Race
GME held a Community Conversation on June 4th that brought over 150 of you together. We heard your personal stories and also ideas for how GME can support you. We will send out a summary of this conversation to make sure this important dialogue continues. Stay tuned for more information on our upcoming gatherings.
Here are some helpful tips and resources.
- Take the test on implicit bias to learn more about your implicit associations about race, gender, sexual orientation, and other topics.
- Talking about race is hard. The National Museum of African American History & Culture has many helpful resources on their website.
- June 19th, known as Juneteenth, is an important day of celebrating freedom and the end of slavery. Look for virtual or in-person events in your community, and read up on the history of the day.
- Watch Mercy. This is a movie based on a book about a Civil right attorney confronting injustice. The movie is free to watch in the month of June.
- Want to learn more about Black history, racism and social justice? Start by reading these books.
- Join the movement by supporting black owned restaurants in your community. Here’s a list.
Pride Month Events
June is Pride month. There are so many ways to support and stand with the LGBTQIA community.
- Take out Tuesday supports LGBTQIA owned restaurants in the community.
- Run or walk with Pride (virtual event from June 26-29)
- Seattle Black Gay Pride – join this FREE Virtual event on June 20th.
Seattle International Dance Festival
Stream the Seattle Symphony
Put on your dance shoes
Mindfulness Minute
This is called 3 minute Breathing Space:
- Minute 1: Think about the question “How am I doing right now”? Focus on feelings, thoughts, and sensations
- Minute 2: Be aware of your breath
- Minute 3: Be aware of how your breath affects the rest of your body
Outdoor Events for Adults and Kids
- Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma will open on June 18th with some restrictions
- Explore Northwest Trek where you can explore the outdoors on a driven tour
- Enjoy the beauty of a park. Washington State Parks are open!!
- U Pick (Strawberry Picking)
For Parents
- On a rainy day, here are few ideas from the Museum of Flight to keep kids busy. Build a kite, a compass or even your own light saber.
- Join artist Jed Dunkerley and learn to draw animals and plants from Washington State. Courtesy of the Burke Museum.
- A reminder to please share the precious picture you took of your little ones with us! Enter them in our “Apple of My Eye” contest that ends on June 23rd by emailing your pics to diptic@uw.edu or jkocian@uw.edu.
Discounts and Specials
- Free for graduates and first responders (Dick’s Burgers, Denny’s BOGO Slam, Panda express)
- Congratulations 2020 Grads!! UW is offering a free 1 year membership.
Gems from Treasure Valley
Garden Valley calls itself the Whitewater capital of the world. You can enjoy many different activities year round including theater, hikes, water sports and wild life viewing. Thank you Lani Wall for these cool ideas!
- Visit Garden Valley for whitewater rafting, hiking and more.
- Bowling is also open at Emerald Lanes and Westy’s Garden Lanes
- Check out Tuesdays on the Creek concert series from now until October 13th.
- And be sure to check out all the virtual events listed above!
Got Feedback for Us?
We’d love to hear it! Share your thoughts about the Wellness Corner, suggestions for future events, discounts or articles to highlight, or anything else you’d like to share. Please email your thoughts to Dipti Chrastka (diptic@uw.edu) and/or Julia Kocian (jkocian@uw.edu).