Wellness Corner – November 16th, 2021

Native American Heritage Month and Thanksgiving

• Start a new tradition with the Indigenous Walking Tour (art at right) at UW or learn about Native populations on this map! Visit Real Rent and make a contribution or shop to support the Duwamish!
• Eat well and find the soup of your dreams here! (Thanks Well-Being Team!)
• Take a pal to one of Magnuson’s runs (Turkey Trot is November 25th and Holiday Run is December 18th) with a distance for all abilities, or keep it casual at Green Lake Tacky Turkey Sweater 5k Saturday, November 20th at 10am! (Tickets here.)

Black Lives Matter

• We need to see our diverse and beautiful selves reflected in the communities around us, and Andrea Gahl is doing just that for surgeons. Check out her art here and here.

• Check out this affinity group of  “likeminded South Asian millennial women living in North America.” It’s a platform to “share, inspire, and collaborate”! (Thanks Nandini Abburi, PGY 5 for this find!)
• Anita Hill will discuss her book Believing at 6pm on Thursday November18th and you can be there virtually! She’s really an incredible person, you won’t want to miss it!

For Parents

• For the feminist in all of us, practical tips along with charming illustrations are abundant in this article: “How to Raise a Feminist Son”.
• Or check out Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s rockin’ follow up Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions. Get your copy today–it fits nicely in a back pocket.
• Make the most of your childcare benefits with FREE info sessions at Kinder Care (November 17th, 1pm-2pm: Register) and Bright Horizons (December 8th, 8:30am-9am: Register). Learn about backup care, discounts, priority enrollment and more. Thanks Gabrielle Pett for this find!
• Help your kids learn about Alaskan Natives with Molly of Denali, the PBS kids show!

Halloween Play Day at Kelsey Creek Farm

We had a fantastic time at Kelsey Creek Farm with our GME parents and kiddos! The sun was out, the costumes were festive, and we had sprinkles in our hot chocolate! My personal favorite moment was meeting the very friendly sheep “Bob” and “Sean” (who were each over 300lbs! and one of whom is pictured at right…) We learned that the oil on their wool – helpful in keeping the rain off – was lanolin oil, so now you have that fun fact to file away. See more pictures here!

GME Counseling to Remain on Zoom for Now

GME Wellness will continue to offer counseling exclusively via Zoom this fall. As a team, we believe this is the best way to support our trainees under the current circumstances. The virtual platform lends itself to meeting from any location without worry about travel or parking. Also, our ability to support you and offer high quality counseling services is stronger when we can see your beautiful faces and read non-verbal clues.

We look forward to the day we can provide counseling support in person and we will  continue to re-evaluate as the situation evolves. In the meantime, please share your thoughts and feedback with us. Thanks to Natalie Brady with GME for collecting a comprehensive list of spaces at our hospitals that you may be able to use to have a Zoom session or take care of yourselves in another way. Get the full list here!

Mindfulness Minute

• Here’s an testament to why you should give journaling a try.
• You might consider using a classic like The Artist’s Way, or maybe Bullet Journaling is more your speed. Here’s another example. (You probably already know about it. It’s a thing.)
• And don’t forget the (arguably) most important kind of journaling–gratitude journaling! Even if you do it begrudgingly, it will still work it’s magic. You can even start right now! Think of a person you’re glad to be around….a favorite food…an beautiful sight…see? You’re off to a good start already.
• Or try a brief meditation like this one.)

Holiday Season Entertainment

• If Die Hard is your favorite Christmas movie, you won’t want to miss the musical parody A Very Die Hard Christmas at Seattle Public Theater running through all of December! (Tickets $36 for Adults)
• Lots of Hanukkah fun to be had for the whole fam, like Hands on Hannukkah at U Village with arts and crafts and treats! (December 2nd at 3:30pm).
• Julefest will be hosted at the Nordic Museum, November 20th and 21st with traditional dance, and refreshments and crafts for sale.
• Bundle up and watch the Argosy ship parade and caroling float by! Sailing in locations around town on weekends through December. Check the timing and map before you pick your watch spot!