Take time to celebrate…I am!
Take time to celebrate…I am!
Take time to celebrate…I am!
He did it! We did it! EVAN GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL!
We just got back from Idaho, and I can’t stop smiling! For most kids, high school graduation is a rite of passage. For a child with mental illness and Autism, it is monumental.
For those that have followed our journey, it has been a long one. When Evan was 15, we made the gut-wrenching decision to place him in a therapeutic boarding school in Idaho. It was by far the hardest decision we have ever had to make, but it was the right one.
Evan’s next chapter is even more exciting! He loves Idaho, and he was accepted into a program that is everything we had hoped for.
He will be living in a new home with two great roommates and staff available to support him 24-hours a day. He will have an opportunity to work, continue to learn life skills, build relationships, and pursue his passions. It is literally a dream come true. (These services were available day one in Idaho. We have been on a list for over 15 years and are still 29,600 on the list for similar services in Texas. I’m working to change that.).
In many ways, it feels like our journey is just getting started, but I am so hopeful for Evan’s future. I am also incredibly proud of the fact that he still asks me to share his story. He understands the shame and stigma attached to mental illness and Autism and wants to help change that. As a mom, this is my proudest accomplishment.
What do you do when you have an incredible accomplishment? You CELEBRATE!
When we have an accomplishment, it’s easy to appreciate it for a moment and then move the goal line. Celebration is a great resilience-building strategy because cultivating positive emotions floods your system with happy hormones, letting your brain know you’re safe, and allowing your nervous system to reset.
I am going to celebrate with a little self-care. I am looking forward to some time off in July to celebrate and savor Evan’s accomplishment. And ours.
Don’t forget to celebrate wins, big and small. You scored that parking spot up front? Do a happy dance in the car. Found the shirt you wanted on sale? Give yourself a high-five. Soak in the gratitude.
I wanted to share this amazing news with you because you have been such a big part of our journey, and your prayers and support have meant everything to us. Our next journey awaits, and I could not be more excited.
Stay brave and resilient,
Anne
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Anne breaks down the daily habits and skills needed to grow and cultivate RESILIENCE.
Protect your peace.✌️
Do you remember the Speak & Spell? 🗣
I knew I was a nerd early on because this was one of my favorite toys. I can still remember sitting on the stairs at my grandmother’s house for hours, guessing letters and deciphering secret codes. I thought technology was cool, but never in my wildest dreams did I think someday there would be a tool that could have written this post in way less time than it took me.
AI might not seem like the obvious choice for building resilience, but it can be an incredible tool for building skills that support your mental health and well-being.
Here`s How:
Mindset Shifts: AI-powered apps can help you reframe your thoughts, providing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques that challenge negative thinking patterns in real time.
Building Skills: Whether it’s developing mindfulness through guided meditation, breath work, or setting reminders to practice gratitude, AI can be a daily coach to help you monitor and shift your mood and provide instant support.
Resetting: Sometimes, all you need is a moment to breathe and reset. AI-driven tools like Calm or Headspace offer quick, on-demand breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that can help reset your nervous system, reduce cortisol levels, and help you regain focus.
Building Social Connections: Social support is a key ingredient of resilience, and AI can help you foster these connections. By connecting with groups or communities with similar interests or challenges, AI can help you find support and connection.
Self-Reflection and Journaling: AI-powered journaling apps analyze your entries to identify patterns in your thoughts and emotions. This self-awareness is crucial for building resilience, allowing you to anticipate challenges and respond more effectively.
What are your favorite well-being apps? Tag them in the comments! 👇👇
Grow your attention muscle with mindfulness. 🙏
Studies show people who meditate in their 40s and 50s have the same grey matter density as people in their 20s and 30s. Grey matter density controls attention, focus, emotional regulation, and more.
Meditation is simple but difficult. Pick something to focus on (usually your breath, but it could be anything). When you get distracted, come back to whatever you’re focused on. The goal of meditation and mindfulness is to bring yourself back to the present moment. #mindfulmonday
If you haven’t heard me speak and would like to, or if you could use a little resilience boost, I hope you’ll join me LIVE next Thursday, November 21st, from 12:00-1:00 PM CST.
A huge gratitude shoutout to @culturatisummit for hosting! Register here! ⬇️
https://t.e2ma.net/click/z2p8gi/ndywtdvb/boenx2
Having friendships and a sense of belonging is considered a core psychological need and has a big impact on our physical and mental health.
In fact, it has been proven that social connection is one of the best predictors of longevity, which is why I`ve dedicated an entire module in the Resilience Reset Deep Dive to the importance of social connection to build resilience. Learn more 👉👉👉 https://www.annegradygroup.com/deepdive/
Here`s what my girls Wendy and Daisy have taught me about the importance of connection 🎥
You can’t be a source of strength for others when you are depleted. I recently heard someone say, “Self-care isn’t a bubble bath. It’s a boundary”. I love that. You don’t have to go to a spa (but if you do, please take me). Learn to say no. 🗣
Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.
Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 52 Strategies for Life, Love & Work and Strong Enough: Choosing Courage, Resilience and Triumph.
Congratulations to Evan, mom, and family. You worked together as a team to find the best for Evan. What a well spoken young man. He will continue to do great things because of his amazing support system. Congratulations!
Thank you so much, Christine!!! We are so relieved, proud, excited, grateful, and so many other emotions! I hope you are doing well!
Agreed – incredibly well spoken for a teenager. Well done everyone!
Thank you so much, Teresa!
Congratulations Anne to you, Evan, and your family. It’s an amazing transformation from when I saw him last many years ago.
It is SO good to hear from you! It has been a journey for sure! Still a long road ahead, but we couldn’t be more grateful to get to this point! Miss you!