May 11, 2020 Mailing

Thoughts from the Free World

Please know you are prayed for even if we never meet the Lord know us all down to the hairs on our heads and He Loves us with an everlasting Love we just have to accept it to receive this love. -Cynthia

Good morning. It's me again. Thinking about you all. You are not forgotten. -Janice

You are not forgotten! I am just one of many who are keeping you all in my thoughts and pray each day for your healing and health in the midst of COVID19. I also wanted to encourage you to keep writing even though I know your writing program has been cancelled for the time being. I am a graduate of Otterbein (2012) and received my bachelor's degree with a major in creative writing. After 30 years of taking classes on and off, mostly at community colleges wherever I lived and whenever I could afford to attend classes, I finally received my diploma 3 weeks after my oldest daughter received her own bachelor degree (from a different university). Don't give up on your dreams! Follow your passion because it is what gets you through these tough times. -Lavonne

Hey Everyone! Today I had my last class which just happened to be with Dr. DeStefanis. As we were wrapping up class, I was thinking about how around this time last year, I had one of the most impactful moments in my college career; learning alongside all of you. I am currently looking back on all of my favorite moments from college and hands-down being able to call all of you classmates is at the top of my list. I can't believe how much all of you taught me and how the memories I have with all of you remind me why I want to be a teacher. This past fall I was actually able to teach about American Prison in a Social Justice class when I was student teaching! I want you to know that you all are constantly being thought of and you made a difference in my life that I will never forget. This time is so unknown and scary for all of us, but please know that you are not alone. Thank you for the lessons that you taught me as they mean more to me than you will ever know! - Carrigan

Hi Everyone, I am inspired by your resilience and your ability to speak the truth about your situation at MCI. -Anthony

Mental & Physical Challenges

Boggle: See how many words you can find. Letters can connect in any direction; each letter can be used only once in each word.

E B N S

P S I S

G A T A

U E C H

Grounding is an exercise that helps keep you in the present moment and in reality. It can be helpful in managing overwhelming feelings, intense anxiety, or nerves. It can also help you regain control of your mental focus from a place of intense or high emotion. One example is 5-4-3-2-1: Name 5 things you can see in the room with you, 4 things you can physically feel against you, 3 things you can hear right now, 2 things you can smell right now, and 1 good thing about yourself.

4-7-8 Breathing: Get ready by exhaling all air through your mouth. Close your mouth. To the count of 4, inhale through your nose. Count to 7 while holding your breath. Let it all out through your mouth to the count of eight. Repeat this cycle at least 3 times twice a day.

Quotations to Think about Today

Don’t look backwards, you’re not going that way anyway!

“Society teaches us that having feelings and crying is bad and wrong. Well, that’s baloney, because grief isn’t wrong. There’s such a thing as good grief. Just ask Charlie Brown.” -Michael Scott (The Office)

God speaks to each of us as [God] makes us, then walks with us silently out of the night. These are the words we dimly hear: "You, sent out beyond your recall, go to the limits of your longing. Embody me." —Rainer Maria Rilke

“Sometimes carrying on, just carrying on, is the superhuman achievement.” –Albert Camus