Dear Wellness Community,
Congratulations, we have made it through the coldest April in recent history. It is finally May and the promise of a warm spring is blooming before our eyes. As the sun shines brighter and the days get longer May is a wonderful time to go outside and explore Seattle’s natural beauty. May is the perfect time to focus on improving our physical and mental wellbeing.
As I take some time to sit in my backyard watching the grass grow and the flowers begin to blossom I can’t help but reflect on my favorite poem by Mary Oliver.
In this month’s newsletter, we’ve curated a collection of activities to promote wellness, and encourage contact with nature, get moving and practice mindfulness.
For example, take a long walk among Seattle’s parks and trails and immerse yourself among the trees and forests. Pay attention to what you see, hear, touch, and feel. Take long deep breaths as you bathe yourself in the beauty of nature.
In this issue I will highlight some of the exciting cultural events and wellness activities taking place in May. From AAPI Heritage month celebrations, to festivals, fairs, and flea markets.
In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, we will share tips and resources to help you prioritize your mental health including mindfulness practices, and self-care techniques such as creating a gratitude journal in which you take only a few minutes to write down 3 things you are grateful for. Just this very simple practice can have a big impact on your overall wellbeing.
Overall, it is a great time to explore Seattle’s vibrant and diverse culture, stunning scenery, and outdoor adventures.
So, grab a cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy the May edition of our newsletter. We hope this newsletter will help you gather some tools to prioritize your health and wellness this month and beyond. Thank you for being a part of our community and we hope you have a wonderful month ahead.
Warmly,
This month’s Wellness Corner authored by:
Howard Schafer, LMFT
Mental Health Counselor
hischa5@uw.edu
GME Wellness Counseling
Contents
GME Events News
- Housestaff Event: “You are not Broken: Cultivating Healthy Sexuality During Training.” 6:30-8:00pm on Thursday, May 18th. All residents and fellows are encouraged to attend via Zoom. Registration now open and will close on Tuesday, May 16th. Register today.
- May 20th CMFA Retreat: UWNURF members are invited to attend. RSVP. Time: 12:00-5:00 pm. Location: Health Services Building, Rm 101
- AAPI History Month Celebration: Guest Speaker: Dr. Eugene Yang. Date/Time: May 24 6:30-8:30 pm. South Campus Center, Rm 301
Go Outside
- TAKE A HIKE: Seattleites are spoiled with scenic parks and trails. Now that the weather is getting nicer, you’ll want to get out there and take advantage of the surrounding beauty. If you’re not sure where to go, you can peruse the list of some of our favorite Washington state parks that are driving distance from Seattle. Or check out our roundup of the best waterfall hikes near Seattle.
- Ride a Bike: For two weekends this month, May 20-21 and May 27-28, Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed to cars from 10:00 a.m. on Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Pedestrians and bikers are invited to enjoy the car-free road between the Seward Park entrance and Mount Baker Park’s beach during those hours. More information on the Seattle Parkways website.
Festivals, Flea Markets, & Fairs
- Festivals
- The 49th annual Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF, returns 5/11-21, 2023 taking Seattle moviegoers on a first-run cinematic odyssey at venues across the city.
- Northwest Folklife Festival has been a community-powered celebration of arts, culture, and heritage that make up the brilliant cultural tapestry of the greater Pacific Northwest! The festival hosts over 6,000 artists and culture bearers across 25 stages and 200 food and craft vendors. Folklife Festival will take place on Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-30, 2022) at the Seattle Center and online at nwfolklife.org/festival.
- Flea Markets
- Find a treasure at West Seattle Garage Sale Day on Saturday, 5/13, West Seattle puts on a neighborhood-wide garage sale. You can see a map and more details on the West Seattle Garage Sale website
- Shop at 100-yard sales during Phinney/Wood Garage Sale Day, in the neighborhoods surrounding Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N in Seattle. Free. 5/20, 9am-1pm
- Fairs
- The annual U District Street Fair is back May 20-21, 2023 for its 52nd year. This free two-day fair at University Way will have arts and craft vendors, live music, kids’ zones, and over 40 food trucks and booths.
- Seattle Center presents Spirit of Africa on Saturday, May 13 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Armory Food & Event Hall. This free festival will have music, food, a marketplace, dance workshops, and more.
Mental Health Awareness Month
- Kristin Neff, Ph.D. is a pioneer in the study of self-compassion. Zoom lecture presented by the UW Nurses [login required] on 5/10/2023 at 4-5 pm.” Does Self Compassion Work – Exploring the Science with a Healthcare Lens”.
- Celebrate Mental Health Awareness month with NAMI. on 5/20/2023 at their first Stigma Free Seattle event. Join us at the Vera Project from 11am – 4pm. Free admission, events include community art, mental health panels, poetry and more.
- A labyrinth walk can be enjoyed anytime for mindful contemplation or mere pleasure. A list of labyrinths in State. My favorite is Halls Hill Lookout and Labyrinth.
Candlelight Concerts
Dragon Boat Races
Growing Up Different
Black Lives Matter/Cultural Events
- Honoring AAPI Heritage Month. We Are Here: 30 Inspiring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Have Shaped the United States: We Are Here is the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s first middle-grade anthology. The book shares stories of resilience, adversity, and joy including profiles of AAPI activists, artists, musicians, actors, writers, scientists, and entrepreneurs.
- Originally performed by August Wilson, How I learned What I Learned. is a heartfelt theatrical memoir charting one man’s journey of self-discovery through adversity and what it means to be a Black artist in America. At Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St. in Seattle, 5/13-14
- Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) opens its third major group exhibition of Indigenous Artists. Indigenous Strength & Wellness, features Native American and First Nations mostly living and working in the Salish Sea region. Continuing through 6/4.
Mindfulness Minute
- Happiness Break: Visualizing Your Purpose, with Dacher. Dacher leads a meditation to find purpose and strengthen relationships by imagining a better world.
- A 7-Day Stress Prescription (The Science of Happiness podcast) Learn the tips and tricks to embrace and manage
- Clinical psychologist and mindfulness teacher Tara Brach leads a mindful meditation to help you take a sacred pause and release tension.
Wellness Corner Quick Links
Henri’s Corner
- Please watch my friend Hokule’a.
Gems from Treasure Valley
- Some great trails to go on a wildflower walk:
- Red Cliffs Nature Center Trail
- Military Reserve
- Hillside to Hollow Reserve
- Camel’s Back
- Polecat Reserve
- Freddy’s Stack Rock Trail loop
- Bogus Basin trails (wildflowers are blooming here all summer!)
- Some great Open Markets for a weekend stroll:
- Saturdays: Boise Farmers’ Market Runs from 9am-1pm at 1500 Shoreline Drive with all kinds of goodies from bread to broccoli and flowers to fish!
- Capital City Public Market Every Sat from 9:30am-1:30pm on the Grove Plaza. This is an artsy market with lots of local vendors and makers, there’s a few food items here too.
- Saturdays starting May 6: Eagle Saturday Market runs every Saturday from 9am-2pm in Heritage Park in downtown Eagle.
- Tuesdays starting May 16: Caldwell Farm to Fork Farmers’ Market runs every Tuesday evening from 5-8pm at Indian Creek Plaza.
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), Julia Kocian (jkocian@uw.edu), Patty Long-Brohm (pattylb@uw.edu), and/or Howard Schafer (hischa5@uw.edu).