Tag: Mindfulness

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Another Year Older, Wiser, and Starting Over (Again)

Cherry and the Hoot

Hellooo Hooters!

Today happens to be the GREATEST day of all time- June 27th! Cheers to another year older, wiser, and starting over (again)! Finally, my New Year is here yet again- Happyyyy Birthdayyyy to meeee! 

Goodness, I have managed to survive yet another year of this “Life thing” and I’m honestly not sure how to feel about it. Overall, the greatest part about today is the fact that I’m finally able to fully reset my entire life. If you know me, then you know that I don’t celebrate January 1st as a “New Year” for me, but instead my actual birthday. I use June 27th for my New Year’s resolutions, cleanse, and overall self-improvement. 

Being able to reset on my birthday is important to me because I can reflect on my past year and observe where I need to improve, see where I went wrong, where I lost motivation, etc. In my previous post, I wrote about getting back on track and this is exactly what I meant by that. A fresh start at least gets me going on the right path and I always try to keep in mind- a good habit becomes most effective after 21 days. No matter what goals I set, I try my best to force myself to complete them for at least 21 days. 

Just like any other year, this year has been hectic and I’ve faced numerous challenges and exciting moments throughout it. The first six months I decided to let go of alcohol and I’m proud to say that I succeeded greatly. Halfway through the first six months, I gave the 75 Hard challenge a try and somewhat succeeded for the most part. My most creative task for my last year was to create a “Random Thoughts of 32” thread in my Notes app. I seriously can’t wait to share that in a future post. That is where I shared some of my hardest, darkest, and transparent moments in my life throughout the year. 

This last year I also considered and started new beginnings, repaired or tightened broken relationships, fell in love with a new hobby, explored Faith, and more. Of course, throughout my sharing my journey, I’ll be reflecting on the biggest setbacks I faced. I’m choosing to share my setbacks because I’m an honest person and if I can’t be transparent or real with my supporters- what’s the point of this blog right? 

My goals for this year would probably consist of the continuation of improving myself physically, financially, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, etc. I plan on blogging more and enhancing my overall content. Improving more relationships with my loved ones would be ideal- I’ll try not to be too pressed about that. Exploring faith on a deeper level would also be a goal. And then lastly, I’ll be focusing more on completing a few goals I started within the last year- very excited about that! 

Overall, I’m excited about my new beginning and a reset of life. I’m excited to overcome the challenges I may face and hope to deal with them accordingly. I’m excited to work on myself across the board. I’m extremely excited to accomplish the goals I’ve been working on. I’m excited about my upcoming vision for this blog. I’m just excited to succeed. This next chapter of life will be great and I’m claiming it. 

Much Love, Hooters,

-Cherry and the Hoot

Home, Mental Health

Summer Beach Calming Activities: Summer Mental Wellness

Cherry and the Hoot

Summer is just about here, and while the season brings sunshine and longer days, many of us are still navigating our mental health journeys. The good news? There’s a therapeutic place waiting for us- the beach. With its soothing waves, open skies, and calming energy, it offers the perfect setting to slow down and reconnect. It’s a sacred space to pause, breathe, and come back to yourself. If you’re craving peace this season, these summer beach calming activities are a gentle invitation to relax your inner calm… one mindful moment at a time.

1. Walking Along the Shoreline
-Take off your shoes and stroll where the water meets the sand. Feel each step, listen to the rhythm of the waves, and let your mind drift. This barefoot walk will help ground you and quiet inner noise.

2. Drawing or Writing in the Sand
-Use your finger or a stick to create messages, doodles, or mandalas in the sand. Let the waves eventually wash them away as a symbol of releasing what no longer serves you.

3. Beach Breathing Meditation
-Sit or lie comfortably on the sand. Breathe in as the wave comes in and then breathe out as it flows out. Match your breath to the tide to create a calming rhythm that quiets anxiety and recenter your focus.

4. Listening to Seashells
-Place a shell to your ear and listen. This simple act can bring you back to the current moment. Use it as a grounding ritual- a reminder to pause and truly hear what’s around and within you.

5. Watching the Waves
-Find a comfortable spot and do nothing but watch the waves rise and fall. Let each wave carry away tension. This quiet watching helps you become more aware, more still, and more at peace.

6. Beach Picnic with Mindful Eating
-Bring something light and refreshing like fruits, iced tea, sandwiches, etc., and eat slowly as you focus on flavors, smells, and textures. Enjoy each bite with gratitude while listening to the ocean nearby.

7. Gentle Beach Yoga or Stretching
-Roll out a towel or mat and stretch slowly. Try child’s pose, seated twists, or deep breathing postures. The ocean breeze and natural sounds enhance relaxation as your body unwinds.

8. Stargazing by the Shore
-Visit the beach after sunset. Lay back on a towel or blanket and look up. Let the stars remind you how expansive and beautiful life can be. This is a great time for slow breathing or silent reflection.

9. Ocean-Inspired Journaling
-Bring a notebook and write near the water. Reflect on how the sea mirrors your emotions- always moving, sometimes stormy, always returning to calm. Use prompts like, “What do I need to let go of today?”

10. Writing a Message and Letting It Go
-Write a thought, memory, or emotion you’re ready to release- in your journal or directly in the sand. Then let it go. Watch the tide carry it away. It’s a symbolic, gentle form of emotional release.

Each of these summer beach calming activities offers a small, sacred moment of peace and sometimes, that’s exactly what we need. Whether you spend five minutes or five hours, let the ocean remind you that calm is always available. No matter which activity you decide to do, always remember to “Live a Little” while doing so.

Much Love Hooters,
-Cherry and the Hoot

Blog

Black Girl Day Off

Cherry and the Hoot

Black Girl Day Off is observed every October 11 annually in the United States. It is a day dedicated to encouraging black women to take a mental day off to focus on their emotional well-being. Black women assign a high risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and other chronic illnesses. This day was developed to encourage black people to get involved in their health. To overcome mental health disorders and incorrect diagnoses, it is critical to have skilled and compassionate mental health providers. The issues and traumas that disadvantaged, oppressed, and disenfranchised individuals encounter are unique, and they must be treated accordingly.

How To Observe Black Girl Day Off

  1. Assist black women in need

Encourage the black women around you who you to take the day off for themselves. You are welcome to send them helpful materials.

2. Introduce workplace group therapy

Sign up for a group therapy class at your workplace and make sure to include everyone in need, especially black women. This might give you and your employees a comfortable space to express yourself.

3. Make a donation or volunteer

Minority mental health centers are continuously in need of finances and volunteers. You may assist by donating money or volunteering your time.

5 Facts About Why Taking The Day Off Is Important

  1. Mental clarity

If you don’t rest your brain, the adverse effects will compound.

2. Affect your daily productivity life

When we are exhausted at work, even the simplest chore becomes difficult.

3. Improved balance

Taking time away from work allows you to rediscover your joy and recall what life was like before you were overly occupied.

4. Increased concentration

No matter how much you enjoy your job, doing the same thing every day may get old.

5. Improved relationships

If you’re continuously working long hours, the essential people in your life will begin to feel neglected — spend time on short trips with your loved ones.

Source: NationalToday

Uncategorized

Moment of Truth: Loss of Motivation is Real

Cherry and the Hoot

Imagine yourself coming up with such an excellent plan for your future. You’ve carefully brainstormed reasonable and doable steps to guide you toward your goals. You’ve thoroughly researched the pros and cons and weighed out whatever it is you want to accomplish. You created a bonus plan just in case things don’t work out. You’re more than willing to put in the extra work or make possible sacrifices to succeed. You’re excited and begin to execute the first few steps, but then something unexpected happens. Something you didn’t plan, nor was it revealed while researching. You were trying your best to stay in the groove of things, but suddenly, you’ve lost motivation.

Sometimes, there is nothing like deeply desiring something and lacking the motivation to accomplish it. The overall vision is there, and the focus is strong, but the drive to get there seems nonexistent. Could it be one is simply doubting themselves or their goals? Did a life event occur and change the setting? Or what about another individual being the cause of discouragement with their negativity? Whatever the reasoning may be, it happens, and that is okay. It will always be okay to give yourself a break, but you should try your best never to lose your true focus on the objectives you desire in life.

Sure, it would be ideal to achieve our goals overnight, but that isn’t realistic, and I believe this is where most of us go wrong at times. Not all of our plans are going to become successful right away. We create long-term and short-term goals, but many of us either forget or ignore the possibility of those failing, so we don’t make other options. But, honestly, who’s to say even those other options won’t fail us as well? In reality, we don’t know, but we have to go for it regardless. Things will not always move at the pace we’d like them to, but we can’t allow that to discourage us and lose our motivation.

Aiming for the bigger picture should always be essential for achieving our goals in life. Some of us may experience a few minor or even significant setbacks, but we have to keep moving forward as best as possible. Take as many breaks as you wish, but do not give up altogether if you can control it. If you begin to lose motivation, try taking a different approach, such as a simple lifestyle change. Speak with someone already in the position you desire to be in for guidance. Re-evaluate your steps and take a possible detour if need be, but do not give up because you have already come so far. I can’t express that enough. Keep your head above the water, take a deep breath, take your time, keep going, and you will succeed!

If I am being sincere, this topic came along because I am genuinely losing motivation towards this blog. It’s sad, but this is my truth to my supporters. So many people do not understand how challenging it is to be suffering from mental health disorders such as anxiety and major depression while trying to be there for others battling those same disorders. It is not easy, especially when I am already struggling to be there for myself. Yet, I keep trying my best to produce content even when I don’t feel like it because I know others look forward to my posts. I’m beyond grateful for that.

I push myself because I know the overall picture I wish to accomplish for myself and others. Those without a voice who can not express themselves adequately or feel as though they are alone when they aren’t- I am trying as hard as I can to be there for us. Additionally, working on this Cherry and the Hoot blog along with my personal and work life, I am quietly behind the scenes trying to develop additional opportunities for myself and my future. So it gets tricky, but I am not giving up on us. At times, it may take a bit longer to produce content, but I will always be here and forever appreciate my supporters’ understanding. No matter what, I’ll never forget to take some time to Live a Little in the midst of it all!

Much Love Hooters,

-Cherry and the Hoot

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Five Daily Mental Health Questions To Ask Yourself

Cherry and the Hoot

Hooters,

Mental Health Awareness Week is upon us, and we all could use a few tips on improving our daily mental health. These five questions are important to ask ourselves daily because understanding how we feel and being true to ourselves will ensure what kind of assistance we might need to get us through the day. Of course, the answers will change daily depending on our moods, but keeping a log and staying on track can prevent us from falling into deeper levels of darkness. Ask yourself these questions, and watch your mental health improve by the day. 

Five Daily Mental Health Questions To Ask Yourself

  1. What is my mood like today?
  2. What has been bothering me lately?
  3. Is my body receiving its basic needs?
  4. What do I do to bring myself joy?
  5. Who am I going to have on my side?

Much Love,

Cherry and the Hoot

Uncategorized

21 Days of Hope Challenge

Cherry and the Hoot

April happens to be the Month of Hope. Hope is what we need to keep ourselves going each day. Hope is believing in ourselves and wanting the best outcome of our lives. Hope allows us to overcome some of our most challenging moments. Sadly, when one loses hope, they might feel there is nothing left to live for. However, one should never lose the feeling of hope when it comes to their life. Life is a beautiful thing and should always be cherished. Unfortunately, so often, we as people tend to forget the good we’ve already encountered. Instead, we take the things that once made us happy or previously provided us with hope for granted.

I created this 21 Days of Hope challenge to provide hope to those in need. Each day should remind one of the little things in life they may have forgotten or taken for granted. The goal is to think deeply about each question and consider how it truly made you feel at that moment. I suggest writing your answers in a notebook or the Notes app on your phone, so they’ll be readily available when you need them the most. Give yourself 10-15 minutes each day to cherish these occurrences, and if you’re able to, try to recreate newer memories.

Day 1:
Who is someone who brings you happiness? What is your connection with this person? How do they make you happy? What are things you enjoy doing with this person?

Day 2:
What is the best part of your physical health you’re grateful for? Why? What are you doing to upkeep your physical health?

Day 3:
Describe a time you were able to overcome a challenging obstacle you were uncertain about. How did overcoming the obstacle make you feel? Are you confident you’ll successfully overcome that obstacle again if faced?

Day 4:
Describe your happy place. When and how did you discover this particular place? What about this place makes you happy? How often do you visit?

Day 5:
A time you were experiencing one of the darkest moments of your life and someone special was able to uplift your spirits. How was this person able to help? Have you been able to express to them how it made you feel?

Day 6:
What is a song that brings happiness when you’re down? Is it repeat-worthy? How long does it make you feel good? Did you listen to it today?

Day 7:
What is a small achievement you’re proud of? How were you able to accomplish this goal? Have you been able to set higher goals to achieve? What are you waiting for?

Day 8:
A smell that brings you happiness. What does this smell remind of you? Why is it so significant?

Day 9:
A time a stranger put a smile on your face. How were you feeling before that moment? After?

Day 10:
A fun, memorable moment with a close family member or friend. What was the occasion? How did you feel at the time?

Day 11:
A time you were down at work, and a coworker cheered you up. What did they do to help? Can you still count on them today?

Day 12:
What is a movie that makes you happy? Why is it so unique? How often do you watch it?

Day 13:
Name a book that inspires you to better yourself. When’s the last time you read it? Have you been able to apply any advice to your life?

Day 14:
Consider something physical you enjoy doing that others aren’t capable of. Are you grateful? How would encourage an incapable individual?

Day 15:
What is your favorite part about technology? Does it help contribute to your happiness? How?

Day 16:
What are some of the most encouraging words you’ve ever heard? Who delivered them? Do you live by those words?

Day 17:
Describe a time a professional helped you overcome something troubling. What was their occupation? How long did it take for you to overcome the matter? How thankful were you at the time?

Day 18:
Describe something at home you’re grateful for others may not have. Have you ever taken this for granted?

Day 19:
Think about the person who’s always there when you need them the most. Who is this person? How often are you in communication? Have you ever expressed your appreciation to this individual?

Day 20:
Think of a time you were able to bring joy to someone else’s life. Who was this person? What did you do? Did their reaction make you feel good?

Day 21:
Consider a moment you put a smile on your face. How were you able to accomplish this smile? How did you feel after? Are you keeping yourself happy by staying consistent with this act of self-happiness?

Some of us may not currently be precisely where we’d like to be, but we should cherish and always consider the positives we’ve already endured throughout our lives. I hope this challenge can help someone find their happiness again or give hope to anyone who feels they lack it. To all reading this, you matter, your happiness matters, having hope matters, and your life matters- please never forget that!

Much Love Hooters,

-Cherry and the Hoot