Holiday Support & Hacks to Help Navigate the Pandemic Crisis 2020

Holidays Are Currently Deciduous? 

Okay, so they aren't a tree and they don't lose their leaves every year. Still, it certainly isn't the same old thing this time around. 

We aren't all going to Head Family Person's house this year and sitting around eating an overstuffed turkey and getting drunk off eggnog. 

The break from tradition may not be helpful during a time of year where so many fall into depression, but it is what we as a society needs. We need to learn to adapt. 

No one is saying you can't have holiday cheer. I'm teaching my children how to make hand-turkeys for November. We'll be making Christmas trees, stars, elves, ornaments, and candle drawings this year and hanging them up around. We're eagerly awaiting cards to make a tree out of. 

We are hoping to find some holiday-related masks, as well. As for the food, more for us. We'll still be calling and maybe even video-chatting with relatives to make it feel "normal" in some sense, but without all the risk of illness. And - best of all - we can just hang up if an argument occurs. A decided improvement over the previous years of invasive and mouthy guests, if you ask me. 

I hope and wish you all a fabulous and happy holiday season, no matter which one you're celebrating. We are all in this together! May 2021 bring better things to come. 

 

Uncertain Times Call For Desperate Comparative Measures!

Uncertainty reigns supreme this season, as always. 

However, this year is obviously extra morose with all these unnecessary deaths. 

The pandemic stemming from Covid19 has yet to subside and is, once again, rising in numbers. 

The United States prides itself on being a leading nation of the world, yet is too stingy and selfish to follow the simplest of protocols. 

The holidays are right around the corner, but hopefully everyone will have an online get-together rather than risk lives by meeting up in person. 

Wear a mask, if not for your own sake then for the sake of others. There's no need to be selfish! 

If you have an STD, you'd wear a condom. You would use a condom if you're partaking in intercourse without knowledge of your partner's past, as well. 

Yes, this is a comparison of sexual diseases and CoVid19. 

No, it is not a joke or even an extreme comparison. 

If anything, this proves how callous everyone refusing to wear a mask and stay home are actually behaving towards their fellow man, woman, and child. 

Stay safe this season, holidays or not, and try to remember to show compassion to others. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

Stereotypes |Prompt Answers| Continued...

 Describe a time when you felt you were unfairly stereotyped because of your age or any other characteristic:

"In my twenties I looked older than now that I'm 41. I like Rap music. People used racial remarks against me. Some people think that because I'm 41 years old, that I'm old. And they think because I smoke that my health is bad. Also, people think I'm fat and too big.  People accuse me of trying to be Black. Now that I'm 41 years old, I look like I'm in my twenties. They also say Asians are hort. And Bruce Lee & Jackie Chan. Also if people go walking at night they might get robbed. By the way, I had and Asian friend. My friend's name was John." -Leon B.

"I was stereotyped on a Thursday when my apartment building caught fire. I tried to call my supervisor early Thursday knowing she would be at work. She was not at work. I tried to get a hold of  another supervisor. She did answer the phone. I asked for emergency leave. She wouldn't grant my request. Stating it had to be granted from my supervisor.  I finally got a hold of my supervisor. She demanded that I come into work on Friday because she was leaving on vacation Saturday. She didn't understand that all my clothes smelled of smoke. The laundry room was on the side of the fire.  My PTSD and Depression was really bad on Friday. I got a newspaper Friday and showed it to my supervisor. She sort of believed me, but told me what I need to have done by the time she got home from vacation.  I got part of the two weeks worth of work done, but I feel she stereotyped me as a lazy person because I didn't get all of it finished.  It was about 6 years ago that she apologized for her actions on that day. My boss said that her actions during that time really bothered her.  I have seen her since, but I talk to her on Facebook now and then more than in person." -Deb G.

"It started when I was 7. I was a self-harmer. The doctor and other people stereotyped that I was doing it for attention, which made me upset. It just made it worse. The cutting went on until I was 21. I cut and cut because people did not understand my illness. It made me sad and upset. People looked at my scars and sometimes would stare. That makes me uncomfortable. Why judge me? It's not fair. Why stare at me? Judge your self. All the doctors look at the past history and not how I am doing now." -Fawnna C.

"I was 8 years old. I went to a foster care home and ran away all the time. So I ran from my problems all my life, never facing them head on. I'm older now and I've come to learn that won't solve anything. My problems are still there and I have been learning to use my coping skills to better my life. Also, I'm tired of running from my problems." -Julie R.

"I cannot think of a time I've been stereotyped, per se. Assumptions have been made by many people, but I don't give those people any of my time. The way I see it, if people can't take the time to know you - then their opinions aren't really worth my emotional investment. It can be annoying when people jump to conclusions, but if you let it get to you - you can't really enjoy your own life and that just doesn't make sense... In the words of Napoleon Bonaparte, 'Life is a battle; stand up and fight.'" -Alanda McRae.

Prompts From Jenny (With Her Answers!)

 List 20 Things That Make Me (You) Smile:

1. Putting on my makeup to start the day
2. Taking a nap with my cat
3. holding my cat
4. listening to music
5. playing on my computer
6. play games with staff
7. riding on the bus
8. money
9. my phone - I drop it & it didn't break! Yes!
10. My nail polishes
11. my paintings
12. shopping
13. my books
14. my music
15. my friends
16. my computer
17. my cat
18. sleeping
19. my skills
20. and my love for people who love me

What I Do When I Hear Voices:

1. Listen to music
2. I keep myself busy
3. I play games with my staff
4. I journal
5. I swing on the park's swings
6. I play and take a nap w/my cat
7. I play on my computer
8. I do crafts
9. I shop
10. I clean

Photography By: Alanda McRae
"Purple Irises"
2009

Autumnal Truths (Scott C.)

 "Fall" by: Scott C.

Trees, grass, flowers, shrubs, and other growths fall asleep before winter settles in. The trees lose their leaves and grow dormant. To me, it's a sign of death, Lives, emotions, thoughts, memories and more change - to a certain extent. The weather starts changing colder. The sky is overcast a lot. Sometimes there is snow and rain. 

"Living with Schizophrenia" by: Scott C.

Sleeping habits vary. Sometimes I sleep a lot and sometimes not. Eating habits vary. And sometimes we think food is poisonous ☠ because of the way it looks or smells. Also, we smell things other people don't smell. Little tasks are sometimes hard. Like making our beds. And to take a shower. Cleaning our room might take hours to finally feel up to getting around and doing it. Pain is also a big factor. Voices are annoying and make it so we can't rest. Forgetfulness is also a part.  

Coldwater Park @ Coldwater, Michigan, USA
September 24th, 2010
Photography by: Alanda McRae

Halloween Stories by Sheryl S.

LITTLE TEDDY

By: Sheryl S.

Tom worked hard all of his life.  He was throwing a birthday party for Lori. He bought her a nice birthday present.  They had the party and Lori opened up her gifts.  She opened up her dad's.  It was a big, black teddy bear.  The teddy bear growled, and the terror began...

THE MAZE

By: Sheryl S.

Sally and her mom were sitting on a tree stump.  Before them was a big maze.  They were deep in an eerie forest.  Old people were going in the maze, and coming out were children.  The End... 

HIDE AND SEEK

By: Sheryl S.  

Five high school kids were playing in the graveyard.  The wind blew, and a dog kept howling during the night.  Jessie, Marie, Tom, Bill and Joe were looking at the gravestones.  They were about to leave, and they read one more. 

On the gravestone read, "Good Girl Jessie, 18."

Ooooh....👻 

The End.