GreyBruceKids_Summer2020

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Recently, many of us have been given the gift of time — and if you haven’t, you’ve perhaps seen your priorities shift in other ways to recognize the value of your time. How many hours are you “wasting” on social media, or by watching TV or drinking alcohol? One hour of scrolling on your phone each day equals seven hours a week — almost one full working day. Multiply that over the course of the year and you’ve spent the equivalent of 45 eight-hour work days on your phone. Over a month-anda-half of potential work has been wasted with mindless scrolling. What if you could spend that time on something that enriches your life or enhances your creativity — something that connects you to the bliss of childlike freedom and sparks happiness and fulfillment? Your inner child is still here. You don’t have to go looking for them. It’s a matter of making time to be with yourself. I find keeping a journal to be an excellent tool to start with. It’s important to write down whatever comes to mind, so don’t re-read or edit your work until you’re all done. Once you get in the flow of writing you will be amazed at where your mind took you! I’ve included some journal prompts to help get you started. JOURNAL PROMPTS TO RE-CONNECT TO YOUR INNER CHILD • As a child, I could spend hours… • As a child, my favourite outdoor activity was… • As a child, I loved to… • What were my strengths growing up? • What were my weaknesses growing up? Did I overcome those? Do they hold me back from living my best life today? • What did I want to be when I grew up? • How did I want to feel when I grew up? If journalling isn’t for you, there are other, more active ways to re-connect to your inner child! MORE THINGS TO TRY • Reflect on all of the activities you loved as a child, and take the time to try one of these again. • Make a list of all of your favourite childhood foods and make your favourite meal. • Write down all of the programs, sports or activities you participated in as a child. • Find old photos or videos of yourself as a child, and reflect or reminisce on who that child was, and the moments that were captured on film. • Ask your parents or siblings what they remember most about you as a child – what did you spend hours doing? Were you a happy child? What unique traits did you have, or habits that were uniquely yours? • Watch your favourite childhood movie, from all stages of childhood – even your teen years! • Put on the songs from your favourite bands growing up. Dance and sing your heart out! These are all starting points, and, believe me, once you start listening to your inner child, it becomes easier to hear them. Once you start, it’s important to actively engage with your inner child. You could plan a day once a month, or start a new class once a week — but know that your time is valuable. You should spend at least some of it on activities you truly love, just because you love them! If you lack time to do the things you wish you could, this is an opportunity to re-evaluate. (Full disclosure — I am by no means perfect. I spend way more time on my phone than I would like to admit.) It’s important to look at where you are spending your time and see if you can make room for yourself. If you can’t find time for yourself, please ponder this question honestly: Is it truly because you can’t, or is it because you won’t? There is a difference, and it’s important to acknowledge this. The people around you can see this difference. They can tell if you are choosing can’t or won’t. It feels counter intuitive at first, but the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” is so true. It’s important to fill up your cup first, so you can overflow love and joy into those around you. I encourage you to step back and decide how you would like to spend your time. If you are choosing “won’t” as your excuse, ask yourself, is it because you simply don’t want to? That’s OK, if
However, if there is a part of you that feels like you want more, or perhaps something is missing, then give yourself the time to explore what that means. If you are convincing yourself that you don’t have the time because you don’t know where to start, or the alternative is scary, then let’s ease into it. Use some of the journal prompts or ideas above, and just take them one at a time. As I mentioned earlier, your inner child already knows exactly what you need. It’s just a matter of listening to that voice. Take the time to reconnect to your inner child. Get lost in the memories and create new ones with your family, doing what you loved to do as a child. you are content! There is a difference between being genuinely OK with the power of a routine, versus wanting to be OK with the routine but feeling guilty for thinking you “should” do more. Just acknowledging the difference and deciding to choose contentment as your option because that works for you (regardless of what other people think) is a beautiful thing. I am giving you full permission to release any guilt you may have around that! Sometimes we associate being content with settling – but the definition of happy is actually “feeling pleasure or contentment.” Do what makes you happy! Let your inner child explore, and encourage that creativity to flow into your life as an adult. At the end of the day, time is the only currency that truly matters, so make sure you’re spending your time in a way that brings you joy. Make the most of it, and trust that you know exactly what you need to live a happy, fulfilled life. GBK RUTH MONTGOMERY is the Founder of The Maven Project and Camp Maven. Born in Lucknow, she is an avid traveller. She believes in living an authentic life, doing the inner work to find out what a fulfilled life is to you, and saying yes to as many experiences/adventures as possible! For more info visit www.themavenproject.ca and www.campmaven.ca. Game On! Keep track of your reading & earn virtual badges all summer long with our online resource Beanstack. June 27 - August 21 library.brucecounty.on.ca * All Front Line and Essential workers for their efforts and tireless dedication during this time * Teachers for continuing to support students and learning in a variety of ways * Custodial staff for cleaning, and providing ongoing maintenance and access to our schools * Support staff for continuing to provide support and answers in a variety of departments The Community Education Department looks forward to reconnecting with everyone regarding Driver’s Education, Community Use of Schools programming and all other programs in the future. www.bwdsb.on.ca Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow greybrucekids.com • 17
Page 1 and 2: SUMMER 2020 • Volume 10 Issue 2
Page 3 and 4: FROM THE PUBLISHER Hang in there, p
Page 5 and 6: In what seems like a blink of the e
Page 7 and 8: phone calls, texts, letters and doo
Page 9 and 10: As parents and caring adults, it’
Page 11 and 12: WHO IS AT RISK? We do not have the
Page 13 and 14: questions in much the same way you
Page 15: Most adults find themselves living
Page 19 and 20: SCIENCES Elementary It’s Okay to
Page 21 and 22: Secondary Visual Arts National Gall
Page 23 and 24: The Grotto *There may be travel res
Page 25 and 26: around the lake, it’s the perfect
Page 27 and 28: Startrails greybrucekids.com • 27
Page 29 and 30: Now open in 49 locations! the commu
Page 31 and 32: Wiarton Kids Den Day Care/Kids Club
Page 33 and 34: Owen Sound and North Grey Union Pub
Page 35 and 36: Register your child Choose excellen

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