Dear Wellness Community,
When we experience our lives as one moment unfolding into the next, we can lose sight of where we began and what’s shifted along the way. A session with the GME Wellness Service can be an opportunity to slow down and connect those moments into the story of your time at the University of Washington.
Even if you don’t connect with a counselor, you might take a moment to reflect on what’s unfolded for you in the past year or so. What’s changed in your practice? Do you notice an ease or confidence that wasn’t there before? Did you overcome fears or setbacks? Were there peers, patients, or mentors that helped to shape your experience? What needs celebrating? Grieving?
As many of you move into independent practice or the next year of training, you might feel pulled to forge ahead. You wouldn’t be here without a powerful drive to move, grow, build and serve. But, if it feels right, take a moment to pause. You might try forest bathing, storytelling, dancing or exploring the Puget Sound. Find a time and place that allows you to unhook from the next best step and savor where you are.
As I told a client the other day, “You did it. It’s not done, but you made it. You made it to this moment.”
Read on to discover more opportunities to connect with yourself and your community in the May issue of the Wellness Corner. And, as always, you are not alone. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Wellness Service or somebody you trust.
Take care,
This month’s Wellness Corner authored by:
Amy Wheat LMHC
Mental Health Counselor
amywheat@uw.edu
GME Wellness Counseling
Contents
Announcements and Resources
- TOXIC: A Black Woman’s Story is a short film that explores the effects of racism on black women and their babies. The Department of OB/GYN DEI Council, UWMC EDI and Perinatal and Neonatal Services invite you to join them for an in-person screening and discussion on Thursday, May 23. Please register here. Photo courtesy of TOXIC: A Black Woman’s Story
Celebrating the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities of Seattle
- Celebrate AANHPI Month and get your heart rate up with a Bollywood dance fitness class at Live2Dance in South Lake Union.
- Stop by the Wing Luke Museum to immerse yourself in Part Land, Part Sea, All Ancestry, an exhibit featuring installations by 13 artists from queer CHamoru arts collective, Guma’ Gela’.
- Indulge your sweet tooth with a stop at Che Dessert, home of all the best Vietnamese goodies. Still hungry? You’re in King Plaza, the choices are nearly limitless.
It Takes Guts
The Family that Explores Together...
Grow your Veggies
Mindfulness Minute
- UW Botanic Garden hosts wellness events throughout the year, including Forest Bathing, on Saturday, May 18.
- At Mindfulness Northwest, you can hop on a virtual drop-in class or register for a full-day retreat for healthcare providers on Sunday, June 9.
- Only have a few moments? Check out the Headspace YouTube channel to browse their library of guided meditations. Some focus on techniques like body scans while others focus on a theme like coping with feeling powerless or sitting with grief and shock.
Wellness Corner Quick Links
Gems from Treasure Valley
- Move your body and support wildland firefighters at the Fireline 5K on Sunday, June 2.
- Do you know a kiddo with a passion for bulldozers and backhoes? Rock their world with a tour of the JUMP vintage tractor collection.
- Fill your belly and celebrate community at the 42nd annual Greek Food Festival on Friday, May 31.
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), Howard Schafer (hischa5@uw.edu), and or Amy Wheat (amywheat@uw.edu).