Never Too Young…
Life happens… and there are times where everything is okay but nothing feels alright. Where you feel like you are a million miles away from where you want to be. There are feelings of darkness, sadness, anxiety, discomfort, with no apparent cause or, sometimes, with very apparent causes. It is a part of life and all we are left with the ability to do is choose how to respond to it. Having healthy habits can help with that, whether that is exercising, getting into nature, reading, or eating healthy. These habits or rhythms we create for ourselves are not cures, our connection with our Father and confidence in our identity are the only cures, these rhythms can still help us manage and cope in the rocky times when the voices are loud and the waves seem to be pulling us under. These habits can be hard to set if you have never been exposed to them before, which is why it is important for us to expose our students to them from a young age.
One thing that has always helped me recenter the most is being in nature. It is something that we encourage all of our teachers to do, to take learning outdoors, even if just for a short period, to help get students fresh air, let them hear the birds chirp and the bees buzz by. Let them feel the fresh air and smell the freshly mowed grass. It takes our brains back to the garden we lived in before we were ever born. With the farm up and producing it has been beautiful to see students getting in there to feel the dirt and touch the plants. It was beautiful seeing our first graders come over and pick some leaves of spinach to try for the first time. Something that none of them may have done if alone, but that they all were willing to try together. The same plants that are producing our salad mixes and collard greens for Porkland. Teaching them in that process the importance of giving your body the fuel it needs and science behind the growing process. It is setting foundations that can be built upon as they mature, and hopefully expose them to something they would not have otherwise known was something that helped them feel at peace.
Two first graders getting ready to try their first farm produce
Another one of these habits is exercise and learning to release our bodies natural chemical cocktails when we physically challenge our bodies and get our heart rates up. This week we got to see some of our students complete the Kid’s Finish First challenge, where they run 12 miles over six weeks and run the last 1.1 miles at a course to complete their first half-marathon. Our students got to go complete this final run together at Lynn Family Stadium. Seeing our students show resilience and complete this challenge helped instill in them not only the feelings that can come with exercise, but also the feeling of completing something difficult. Proving to themselves that they can do hard things.
A few of our Kid’s Finish First students posing with teachers Mr. Michael and Ms. Cindy
Getting to celebrate these introductions and wins with them is exciting, and it is exciting to dream about how the seeds planted in their minds may continue to grow over time. To be a part of helping nurture these ideas of life rhythms that can help ground them when life happens. Hopefully setting them up to turn to these rhythms in the future instead of escaping to mindless entertainment, getting high, or any other potentially harmful coping mechanisms. You are never too old to do these things, and you are never too young to learn them.
Ethan
School Snack List!!!
If you are looking for a way to support Mighty Oak Academy and our mission of quality community based education, please consider helping us provide our students with nutritious snacks from our Amazon Wish List, you can order here.
Merriment!!!
Merriment is closed today. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow. If you aren’t able to make it within our hours, you can always shop our high dollar items on our website here.
Fish Fry Open!!!
Lent may be over but the Fish is still frying here!! Come get your fix of fish or churched up tots. Look forward to seeing you for a nice filling meal. We have new and returning menu items for you to try including waffle fries, chicken tenders, and burgers.
If you are interested in volunteering or to find out more information about supplies needed please email: info@lovecityinc.org or call (502) 272-078.