Words by Urban Devotion Birmingham (UDB)
Autumn can be beautiful; crisp mornings, multicoloured leaves, watching the squirrels burying their nuts in the park.
But it also means colder nights, waking up and getting home in the dark… things that can bring a sense of heaviness. A sluggishness that suggests that humans, like bears, should be preparing to hibernate.
As nice as that sounds, it’s not a realistic option to all hunker down under our duvets until the daffodils start to appear. So what do we do?
At UDB we encourage the children and young people we work with to be aware of how they are feeling, the impact of those feelings on their behaviour, and develop skills to help them handle those feelings when they come. Something that’s good for all of us to do!
Something I’ve found helpful is saying aloud three things I’m thankful for each day.
For you it may be music, walking, art, gardening… all of us will have things that give us a boost when we are feeling low, and knowing what they are can really help in those moments.
It also helps to stay active and connected with others.
If you’re a child or young person, we host weekly spaces where you can connect, play, chill, and eat cheese toasties! All for free.
For young people and adults, being part of a team and making a positive contribution to our community can help our mental wellbeing and we’d love you to consider volunteering with UDB or another local organisation.
For more on Urban Devotion Birmingham scan the QR code above or visit www.urbandevotion.org
Urban Devotion Birmingham is a key partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.
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This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.
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