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Of all the topics that continue to fascinate fashion-obsessed women, the most enduring always come back to the French. What is thatthing that French women have? How do they look constantly, effortlessly chic? What are their secrets? The obsession with Parisienne style continues to spawn books, YouTube series, podcasts and dedicated Instagram accounts (the latest @parisiensinparis, is a personal favourite). But if youre looking for secrets to mastering the art of French dressing, all the answers you need reside in 67-year-old cinematic icon Isabelle Huppert.

Yesterday, Huppert took to the red carpet at the Rome Film Festival for her upcoming film, Le Discours(which translates to The Speech), wearing a velvet black suit, white shirt and black pumps. The outfit was simple, beautifully tailored and, above all, familiar. Those well-acquainted with Hupperts style will have seen her in similar iterations multiple times. In fact, for the last 20 years, black suits have been the bread and butter of Hupperts red carpet wardrobe. Since the early Noughties, shes opted for evening suits over dresses time and time again.

Usually paired with a fresh face and simple hair, Hupperts red carpet appearances perfectly embody the je ne sais quoithat non-French women continue to fawn over. Whats the secret? Consistency and nonchalance. Hupperts decades-long commitment to outfit repeating speaks to the delicious paradox at the root of good style: You have to care, but you cant care too much.

Her clothes are always designer (usually Armani, occasionally Chanel) and always fit her like a dream, but she wears them with the indifference of a person who just threw any old thing on, oblivious to whether shes doing the school run or walking the red carpet at Cannes. French women seem to innately know what most women take decades to realisestyle is rarely about the clothes themselves, its about the attitude of the person wearing them. Attention to detail, self-awareness of what suits your own body and an appreciation for craftsmanship are simply accoutrements.

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Isabelle Huppert Has Been Wearing The Same Thing On The Red Carpet For 20 Years - Grazia

The Arts and Education Council awarded 13 organizations a total of $115,000 in funding through the Arts and Healing Initiative, a new program, in partnership with Missouri Foundation for Health, aimed at increasing the capacity to heal through the arts.

Im thankful for the support of Missouri Foundation for Health, who made this initiative possible and for the additional support from Crawford Taylor Foundation, Missouri Arts Council, Marillac Mission Fund, Graybar and Church on the Rock, said Cynthia A. Prost, Arts and Education Council president and CEO.

In the Angel Band ProjectTelehealth Music Therapy for Survivors, board-certified music therapists with experience in trauma will conduct music therapy programs with survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.

Arts as Healing FoundationCreative Outreach Programwill provide virtual and in-person art classes customized for two organizations in the St. Louis area: Pink Ribbon Girls, working with breast and gynecologic cancer patients, and the City of Ferguson, focusing on community residents with chronic illnesses.

A Call to ConscienceCelebration of Survival Projectwill use the arts, including theater, visual art and narrative storytelling, to provide information, resources, opportunity and access to restorative health.

Fathers and Families Support CenterYouth Leadership and Development Programprovides integrated services and activities that reduce high-risk behaviors and increased self-sufficiency of youth, specifically between the ages of 14-24 with assistance and guidance from mentors.

Girls Inc.Girls and Images of Healingwill use girl-generated photography inspired by what they see as relevant and healing about their homes, families and community. Girls in grades 8-12 will receive disposable cameras, learn photography techniques and be supported by experienced photographers.

Good Journey Development FoundationXpress U Thru Artwill allow young peopletoexplore trauma, oppression, emotions, resiliency, the ability to develop self-care, to develop community care, and ability to positively project internally and externally through the creation of art.

For the Jazz St. LouisBeat NF: A Jazz Music Motor Therapy Program for Toddlers with Special Needs,Washington University Neurofibromatosis (NF) Center has developed a one-of-a-kind jazz music motor therapy program that focuses on frequently delayed skills in young children with NF1, in partnership with Jazz St. Louis educational staff and St. Louis Childrens Hospital Therapy Services practitioners.

MindsEyePandemic Long-Distance Audio Description Network (PLAN)will build on the success of the Audio Description Program and the Arts and Culture Accessibility Cooperative in improving quality of life and community connection of people in our region with a visual disability. This initiative will translate aspects of these programs into in-home access to ensure that patrons with a visual disability have access to the power of the arts, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saint Louis UniversityRadical Forgiveness and Radical Imagination with the Justice Fleet isa mobile, social justice, pop up museum that fosters communal healing through art, dialogue, and play, expanding safe access to the arts and healing through interactive exhibits.

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Childrens FoundationDance Therapywill help patients improve self-esteem and body image, develop effective communication skills and relationships, expand their movement, gain insights into patterns of behavior and create new options for coping with problems.

St. Louis ArtWorksArt Therapywill be provided to participants in individual art therapy sessions at St. Louis Art Works. Their art therapist will meet with each participant at the start of every program to identify and address barriers and to engage with participants throughout the program to address issues identified by apprentices.

St. Louis Crisis NurseryHealing Heartsprovides critical art and expressive play interventions for children between the ages of 3-12 years whose families are facing challenges such as homelessness/transiency, domestic violence, extreme poverty, parental substance abuse, and significant parental health issues. Each participating child will receive their own art supply kit, delivered to their home or shelter and will be led through art and expressive play activities virtually.

Prison Performing ArtsThe Healing Power of Telling Your Storyallows individuals completing their sentences at the Transition Center of St. Louis, a community reentry facility in North City operated by the Missouri Department of Corrections, opportunities for self-paced, hands-on learning in their pursuit of self-awareness and healing.

We believe the arts have a critical role in improving an individuals health and social well-being, said Prost. This initiative was needed in our community even before the spread of COVID-19, but now more than ever people will look for ways to heal, emotionally and physically. As our arts community continues to find innovative ways to lift our community during the pandemic, we know that they will find innovative ways to heal through the arts.

For more information about the Arts and Education Council and the Arts and Healing Initiative, visitKeepArtHappening.org.

Link:
A&E Council awards $115K in Arts and Healing grants - Missouri Foundation for Health partners in funding 13 organizations - St. Louis American

With everything from No Time to Die to Dune being delayed, it feels like every movie we were looking forward to has been pushed back due to the pandemic. But not all hope is lost theres a surprising number of highly anticipated cinema releases still lined up for the remainder of 2020. From psychological horror to Oscar frontrunners, it seems like theres something for everyone on the big screen this autumn and winter.

Below, weve put together a guide for the biggest releases still coming to cinemas in 2020, along with highlighting our top picks for the coming months. We have included UK and US cinema release. Happy watching!

This chilling psychological horror is the debut feature from British director and writer Rose Glass. The titular Maud, played by Morfydd Clark, is a nurse who turns to devout Christianity after experiencing a trauma. Working in a hospice, her faith soon turns to obsession as she convinces herself that she must save the soul of her patient from eternal damnation, no matter the cost.

Gods Own Country director Francis Lee brings us to Englands rugged south coast, where palaeontologist Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) is down on her luck. When a wealthy tourist offers her money to take in his wife Charlotte (Saoirse Ronan) while hes away, Mary cant afford to refuse. The film follows the ups and downs of the two womens relationship as they learn to overcome their conflicting personalities and social backgrounds.

Chlo Zhaos highly anticipated new feature takes place in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash. Frances McDorman plays recently widowed and homeless Fern, who now travels from town to town in a van looking for work. The movie is based on the real-life experiences of modern-day American nomads, whose stories were documented by Jessica Bruder in her book of the same name.

This adventure-comedy stars Ryan Reynolds as Guy, a bank teller who discovers that he is actually an NPC in a violent video game. With his whole world turned upside down and life as he knows it changed forever, Guy decides to use his newfound self-awareness for good and save a few lives along the way, too. The all-star cast also includes Jodie Comer, Stranger Things Joe Keery, and Taika Waititi.

The DC sequel has been hit with delay after delay, but weve got our fingers crossed that well finally get to see Wonder Woman on our screens this Christmas. Gal Gadot returns as the titular superhero, joined by an all-star cast including Chris Pine, Pedro Pascal, Kristen Wiig, and Robin Wright. Set during the cold war, Diana Prince comes into conflict with villains Maxwell Lord and the Cheetah. Read all about Wonder Woman 1984 through that link.

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The must-see movies still coming to cinemas in 2020 - GamesRadar+

As far as independent rappers go, Brooklyns Kota The Friend has been having a decent year, all things considered. His May album Everything was well-received, thanks to features from Bas, Kyle, Joey Badass, and Tobi Lou, while his Trade Places With Them Jeans freestyle with Guapdad 4000 capped off the latters Falcon Fridays series and helped raise both raise their respective profiles among fans with way more time for music discovery on their hands due to the economic shutdown caused by COVID0-19. Kota also celebrated an improved credit score; it may seem simple, but for a rapper working without the backing of a major label, it means a lot.

But time marches on and its apparently time for Kota to get right back to work. To that end, hes returned to releasing music shortly after his 27th birthday with the release of Dragon, a spirited single in the same vein as his Lyrics To Go projects. Over a mellow beat, Kota imagines giving advice to his younger self, saying, If I could go back, I would say to him / Just focus on your spirit and youll make it, kid / And do right by the women that you make it with.'

Kota didnt say whether Dragon would be part of a larger release but he rarely does anything without a plan, so its probably a safe bet that more new music is on the way.

Listen to Dragon above.

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Kota The Friend Gives Advice To His Younger Self On 'Dragon' - UPROXX

The 2018 Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country is ostensibly focused on the exploits of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the Indian spiritual guru known as Osho, and his followers, who established a commune in Oregon, US, in 1982. But the most magnetic presence in it is Sheela Ambalal Patel, better known as Ma Anand Sheela, a fervent devotee of Osho since the age of 16, who was elevated to his personal secretary and de facto empress of the community.

With her innate chutzpah and fiery wit, the young Sheela lights up the screen every time she makes an appearance. Her signature remark, at the height of her brash swagger, was Tough titties, much to the delight of headline-hungry journalists. But the older Sheela, who was in her late 60s at the time of shooting the show, projected an air of dignity, a hint of world-weariness that was sporadically dispelled by her simmering eyes.

This two-in-one personality is also palpable in Nothing To Lose, Sheelas new authorized biography, written by journalist Manbeena Sandhu. She is much wiser now, more toned down, Sandhu says on the phone from Toronto, where she lives. Although she was briefly fascinated by the Osho movement in the early 1990s, when she lived in India, Sandhu never joined it. I noticed a fair bit of narcissism, egotism and hedonism among the followers which didnt align with my beliefs, she says. But this distance didnt come in the way of her forging lifelong friendships with many of the sanyasins, living in India or Canada, where Sandhu moved after her marriage in 2000. I collected my stories about the movement through the last 25 years, she adds.

From the beginning of her association with the movement, Sandhu heard one name again and againthat of Ma Anand Sheela, even though Sheela and Osho had fallen out by 1985 and become estranged. After Sheela had left Oregon with a loyal band of followers, Osho sent the law after her, accused her of wire-tapping, immigration fraud and poisoning his personal physician. Later, the charge of bioterrorism was added to the list, pertaining to her role in poisoning 10 salad bars with salmonella in the city of The Dalles. Sheela was extradited from Europe, where she had fled, and eventually served time for 39 months before being given parole for good conduct.

In spite of her chequered past and ostracization by the core Osho group, Sheela held sway over the sanyasins for years. But even those who knew her whereabouts were reluctant to talk, Sandhu says. Wild Wild Country changed it all. Suddenly Sheelas address and details were only an internet search away. So Sandhu picked up the phone, spoke to the reclusive matriarch, and offered to be her biographer.

Sheela was warm but not convinced at first, Sandhu recalls. She asked me to fly down to Switzerland to meet her. So Sandhu, with her husband and children, went to Maisprach, the village where Sheela runs care homes for the elderly and infirm. Sheela went to receive the Sandhus, was hospitable and helpful, generous with her time. Before long, work on the book was on its way, initially with long interviews in person, followed by near-daily trans-Atlantic conversations after Sandhu returned home.

A biography involves intense research and reporting, but in the case of Sheelas story, the challenge is heightened by the moral ambiguities that underlie every significant move of her life. There is much to unpack, multiple versions of the same event to square. But thats life for you, its full of grey areas, Sandhu says. I have kept parts of her story open to the readers interpretation.

Indeed, at several points of this very readable book, we are confronted with Did she or didnt she? moments. As Sheelas life with Osho begins to unspool, Sandhu reveals to us a softer version of the indomitable sanyasin. She comes across as vulnerable and shrewd, calculating and crumbling, by turns. But she refuses to admit to feeling any remorse. All her life, Sheela has maintained that whatever she did was for the love of her guru. She even described her prison sentence as a fee she had to pay to her master, her guru dakshina. With her steely reserve of strength in the face of monumental adversity, Sheela found a second wind as an unlikely feminist iconshe embodies what millennials and Gen Z fondly admire as badass qualities.

At 70, Sheela remains bold, beautiful and brutally honest, Sandhu says. She is the small-town girl who did things that even stars dont manage to do in movies!

Nothing To Lose by Manbeena Sandhu, published by HarperCollins India.

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In search of the real Ma Anand Sheela - Livemint

Hey, whats Pauly Shore up to these days? Its a question most of us ask daily upon waking, but only recently has the answer become hosting a series of five-minute workout videos on YouTube.

Shore, who became an MTV staple in the 1990s before transitioning into movies, has since then made his way largely by doing stand-up comedy, podcasts, and documentaries based on his life. When the pandemic hit, unable to tour, he started a scripted series called Pauly Shore Is Quarantined With His Ex On Maui. That led to what were here to talk about today: a spin-off called Sweatin with the Wiez, pronounced like The Weasel, Shores famous stoned-surfer alter ego.

In the inaugural episode, Shore leans into the Richard Simmons homage, donning a striped tank top, too-short shorts, and socks hiked well up his calves. With Color Me Badds All For Love joyously chirping in the background, Shore leads his audience through a series of rangy, loose exercises, including old-school style jumping jacks, punches, and kicks.

Men's Health

He also offers a version of pilates and yoga that are likely not those things, and the five-minute workout video, intro and outro included, clocks in at 3:47. So you probably dont want to substitute these in for your regular cardio. But, as Shore later says, Just because youre mentally quarantined, doesnt mean youre physically quarantined.

That this is not strictly trueto be quarantined, youre supposed to be physically isolatedor that hed said the opposite in the previous video fits the laid-back vibe of Sweatin with the Wiez. If youre looking to shake up your exercise routine (and see the well-defined outline of Shores junk) maybe this is the workout for you.

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Former MTV VJ Pauly Shore Is Hosting '80s-Style Aerobics Workouts on YouTube - menshealth.com

TAMPA, FL - The Altman Companies, a Florida-based nationally recognized developer, builder, and manager of exceptional rental apartment communities, celebrates the grand opening ofAlts Grand at the Preserve. Located in northwest Tampa, FL, the innovative first of its kind and environmentally friendly upscale residential community, is owned and managed by The Altman Companies.

Were incredibly excited to open the doors to the Alts Grand at the Preserves Clubhouse, which was designed to elevate our residents lives with personalized services, said Joel Altman, Chairman of The Altman Companies. We wanted to bring the exclusiveness of a country-club living to this community and provide exceptional living experience to our residents as never seen in this area before.

All residents are provided a club membership to access the clubhouse and enjoy its elevated services. In addition to offering its residents a beautifully well-designed space, the community has appointed a dedicated on-site Lifestyle Director to organize events for residents including a daily continental breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Wine Down Wednesdays and arts and crafts activities. The club membership also includes access to Class-A amenities such as a heated salt water pool with pool-pavilion and private cabanas, a dog-park and an indoor dog spa, business lounge with work stations and conference rooms, yoga & aerobics studio, a poker lounge/wine tasting room and luxurious spa services, a sauna, steam-room and treatment rooms.

At Alts Grand, Residents can also take charge of their health by using the community's Wellness Room, equipped with a blood-pressure machine, thermometers, and consultation with a virtual doctor. Additionally, a community movie night in the ultra-luxe movie theatre with lounge seating, a Mahjong tournament in the card lounge or water aerobics in the resort pool, are a few of the possibilities that the Lifestyle Director will be coordinating regularly.

Pre-leasing began in May after the company pivoted to a virtual leasing model to safely assist prospective residents during the pandemic. Since the soft opening in June, Alts Grand has been offering virtual and in-person tours by appointment with an additional layer of safety protocols in place and attracting potential renters from all over the country interested in an Exceptional Living Experience.

The tour takes future residents through fully-furnished apartment model homes ranging from 722- to 1,479-square-feet. The homes are available with private entry or air-conditioned hallway options with elevator access. The apartment homes come complete with quartz countertops, stainless steel, energy-efficient appliances. Apartment Interiors also include spa-inspired bathrooms equipped with dual sink vanities, a lavish soaking tub, and clear glass shower enclosures. Alts Grand at The Preserve is National Green Building Standard (NGBS) certified and some of its sustainable initiatives include energy efficient designer lighting, ENERGY STAR refrigerator, dishwasher and washer and programmable thermostat with humidistat.

Located centrally at Suncoast Parkway and SR 54, Alts Grand at The Preserve is close to everything yet a world away with easy access to a nearby Park N Ride, a plethora of bike trails (including Suncoast Trail), walking trails, and scenic lakes. Top-rated schools, medical professional buildings nearby, and endless entertainment and shopping options, including a brand-new Publix GreenWise Market directly across the street, creates a community that advocates for a healthy lifestyle on-site or within a few steps of the property.

To book your personal tour or to learn more about Alts Grand at The Preserve, please visitaltisgrandpreserve.comor contact the leasing office at 813.710.1200.

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The Altman Companies Announces The Grand Opening of Alts Grand at The Preserve Apartment Community in Tampa, Florida - MultifamilyBiz.com

When it comes to maintaining sound fitness levels, exercise is the key. Not only does it help keep your weight in check but it has many other benefits. Regular physical activity goes a long way in developing a sound mind that makes learning new things easy. The sooner you develop a habit of exercising, the better it is for the progress of your mental health. Therefore, it becomes crucial that your child gets to exercise so that he or she can excel at school, train well and become an asset to society.

Busy schedules at schools and learning centers, together with its frequent assignments at home can make your child stuck in a groove thats not always easy to mend. Lack of exercise can increase the risk of lethargy, child obesity and other cognitive challenges. Compared to those who are inactive, physically active kids and youth have higher levels of fitness, lower body fat, and stronger bones and muscles. It is thus important that you provide an environment to your kids that encourage exercise so that you make things easier for them to learn and achieve at many levels.

Here are a few ways in which exercise improves brain development and ability to focus and learn among kids:

Be it aerobics, yoga or any light physical activity, all help develop and improve the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is required for brain cell growth. Staying active will also stimulate the process of fresh production of new neurons in the brain or neurogenesis. Regular exercise also helps mobilize the genes that are responsible for enhancing the ability of the brain to change its neural pathway.

This way the childs brain is developed and the cognitive functions of the kid are sharpened. Hence parents must not prevent their children from playing outdoors with their friends. Including fun elements in outdoor games is an excellent way for them to do exercises that improves their focus toward learning.

The right kind of exercise, along with playful behavior goes a long way in having a positive impact on your childs rational thinking and ability. Thus, it becomes a major factor for better learning for children. Kids who are put in physically active classes are able to perform better in academic tasks and creative problem solving. If you want your kids to do well at math and classroom tests, then encourage them to a regular form of activity.

Several recent studies suggest that there are short and long-term benefits of physical activity linked to achievement in the classroom. For instance in one such study 20 minutes of walking session improved the subsequent performance of children in reading, arithmetic and spelling tests. Similarly, a group of children who underwent a 13-week active program saw their mathematics score improve considerably than before.

Physical activity keeps your brain sharp by increasing the oxygen supply to the brain and reducing the risk of illnesses that bring memory loss like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Regular aerobics that gets your childs heart pumping sweat glands activated, boosts the size of the hippocampus, the area in the brain that is involved in verbal memory and learning. Research has suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are more in people who follow an active lifestyle than in people who dont. Not just among children but also in adults, exercise plays an important role in fighting memory loss and related illnesses like dementia. For people who live in spaces where open outdoors are hard to get, they try and do simple activities at home. Websites like Total Shape can help you set up the right equipment for your home gym.

Physical activity boosts your childs focus and attention as the brains dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels develop. Exercise is highly recommended to children affected with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). By being the most effective ways to reduce the symptoms of ADHD, it helps improve concentration, motivation, memory, and mood. Kids in a good mood are able to enhance their focus and make them less impulsive. They learn better because they feel better.

With sharper memory come other health benefits like good sleep cycle, more energy levels, higher self-esteem and stronger resilience, all of which are necessary to excel in all forms of physical and cognitive activities. Because of its natural consequence of releasing endorphins, exercise is a great way to relax as well. This leads to your child having a focused mindset, thinking about the right thing at the right time and not lingering on unrelated issues and anxieties.

This can further help develop kids creativity, mental acuity, and motor skills. It is best to mix structured activities such as team sports or dance lessons with random fun such as tree-climbing and hide-and-seek. Know that the most effective forms of physical activity for kids are a mix of high levels of physical activity and elements of play.

For children aged 3 to 5, it is best to take them to the neighborhood playground or play ball in your backyard. A lot of physical activity is recommended to kids in this age group.

Those who are in the 6-17 years bracket are better suited for weight-bearing activities like soccer, lacrosse, Frisbees, aerobics and other physical activities that help improve muscle and bone strengthening. They can also do body-weight actions like push-ups, pull-ups, mountain climbing and burpees.

These are the seasons why schools include a physical education period each day for students to encourage them to play in the school playground.

You as a parent can do a lot more to encourage your child to be more active. Make exercise part of your family time as you go out to the public parks, nearby fields and courts or indoors at home. Check out and attend local events at school or community levels that encourage physical activity. It is always healthier to motivate your child to be off the mobile devices and play with their friend more. You can also meet and coordinate with other parents in your area to provide a safe environment for activity based celebrations and holidays.

Always remember that exercise alone isnt enough for your childs overall wellbeing. It has to be supplemented by a healthy and nutritional diet. Do consult your family physician for the right dietary supplements.

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5 Ways Exercise Can Help Your Child Focus On Learning - Along the Boards

Jean Stinnett, Special to San Angelo Standard-Times Published 4:04 a.m. CT Oct. 17, 2020

The current requirements dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic seriously impact our ability to meet, worship, and function in the ways previously prescribed in our faith. Our comfortable worship routine is gone.(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This is part 4 of a series. Read the other articles in this series online atgosanangelo.com/lifestyle/faith-values.

The Dangers of Isolation

The pandemic of 2020 continues, with no relief in sight. We are required to wear face masks in public establishments. Blue tape and yellow signs on the floor dictate how far away we are to stand from others. Our ways of interacting have shifted. People avoid eye contact and physical contact, even within close relationships. We do not see others smiling because masks hide facial expressions. In public places, moods are somber; cordiality is minimal. People avoid people.

The current requirements dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic seriously impact our ability to meet, worship, and function in the ways previously prescribed in our faith. Our comfortable worship routine is gone.

More: Psychology and Jesus: Coping in changing times, part 1

More: Psychology and Jesus: Coping In changing times, part 2

More: Psychology and Jesus: Coping in changing times, part 3

In the Hebraic culture of Jesus' lifetime, both faith and personal identity were planted solidly in the community. Jesus lived, preached, and taught within the social guidelines that corporate identity was primary. Family or tribal connection was significant. In 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, Paul says we are the body of Christ, each a separate but important part working together as one church for the common good in sharing the love of Christ.

What effect is this isolation having upon the body of Christ?

"Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community. The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation. Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light. In the darkness of the unexpressed, it poisons the whole being of a person." Deitrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York: Harper & Row, 1954), p. 112.

How do we counteract isolation during a pandemic?

Keep in contact with loved ones and friends. Communicate the stress were feeling. Acknowledge the loss of certain comfortable routines. Identify new modes of handling stress. Attend church services, virtually or in person. Seek God through the Scriptures. Pray for yourself and others. Stay in the Light: search for it and find it. Own the love Jesus has for you, and pass it on.

Here is my prayer: Father God, Your ways are superior, Your will is complete. I bow to Your sovereignty. I present my worry and fear before You, placing all burdens at the foot of the empty cross. Forgive me, Lord Jesus, as I humbly repent my sins. Shield me from temptation and deliver me from evil. Guard me to be a faithful servant in Your Word. Guide me through tempestuous waters to seek Your truth. Encourage me to share Your transforming love with the widow, the orphan, the sick, the lonely, the dejected and the rejected. Holy Spirit, plant opportunities within me to grow with the gifts You graciously give. Let Your praise be ever upon my lips.

In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen

River Crest Psychiatric Hospital offers helpful survival tips. 1) Eat healthy foods, whole foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, avoid fried and processed (sulfates and sulfites) items. 2) Aerobic exercises such as jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing improve moods, alleviate stress, and lift depression. 3) Deep breathing, meditation, a positive mental attitude, and prayer calm our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Jean Stinnett is a licensed professional counselor and author of 'Please Pray With Me' who retired in Mertzon after a30-year career in public education.If you appreciate locally driven news, consider a digital subscription to GoSanAngelo.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for news updates. Submit news tips to News@GoSanAngelo.com.

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Psychology and Jesus: Coping in changing times, the dangers of isolation - Standard-Times

Given the pandemic, we hear a lot about resilience, the capacity to flex ones attitude and behavior to effectively address adversity. And we should. Resilient types fare better than their mentally rigid counterparts who lack this bounce-back capacity. Fine, but what is resilience?

One of my wilderness experiences provides an illustration rather than a conceptual explanation. A few years ago, my backcountry buddy and I were slogging up a steep, rocky trail near Mount Rainier on our way to a white-knuckle traverse of an icy escarpment. Early on, our path intersected a nature trail popular with tourists who wanted a taste of the wilderness without the full monty. Nearing the trail junction, we glimpsed two figures coming our way, albeit haltingly.

We soon realized one of the approaching hikers was a petite, frail-looking woman who appeared quite disabled. Her left hand was contorted and useless, while in her right she gingerly held a hiking pole. With great effort, she half-dragged one of her legs. The man accompanying her walked behind, allowing her to set the pace, while we stepped aside to let them pass.

Good to see you out here, I said when her eyes met mine.

Her face bore the asymmetrical appearance found among some stroke victims, making it difficult for her to smile when I greeted her, but smile she did. Not just at me, I suspect, but also at the glorious vistas in our midst, and, perhaps, also at her own mettle in making this trek to see them firsthand instead of through a car window or on a screen. Its good to be here, she replied, beaming. Very good.

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She must want it bad, my companion observed as the pair carried on at their painstakingly slow pace. Resilient people do. They are energized by a sense of purpose, whatever that may be for them. It gives them hope, courage and grit.

An hour later, as my friend and I struggled with a much tougher trail and our own fears of a steep drop-off one misstep away, an image of this woman emerged in my minds eye. Her example gave me a shot of needed moxie and the resolve to press on. As former first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, told us, You must do the thing you think you cannot do. And whether one is pushing against physical limitations or psychological ones, resilience provides that can-do mindset.

Due to the pandemic, challenges requiring this kind of mettle abound. And while they sometimes call for physical perseverance, successfully meeting them always requires a resilient mental attitude, the kind we saw on that disabled womans face and in her eyes. Such people dont capture many headlines. They arent firefighters rushing into burning buildings or self-sacrificing healthcare providers toiling in packed ICUs. Rather, they are otherwise ordinary folks who summon sufficient resolve to be heroes in their own right. And this is one of those times in our history when heroism is all around us.

Many lives are visited by personal tragedy, and no small number are destroyed by it. The surges in emotional distress, substance abuse, domestic violence and suicidality brought on by the COVID plague are proof of that. And while some claim life never gives us more than we can handle, glib platitudes dont cut it when misfortune arrives. And, this year, it has arrived in force.

Like many of us rocked back on our heels by the pandemic, its likely that, at some point, that woman on the trail felt shed been handed more than she could bear. That she proved greater than the burden placed at her doorstep by fate is a credit to her character and resilience, and an inspiration for all. This woman did more than overcome a raw deal. She also demonstrated that the human spirit can rise above the impersonal forces that sometimes conspire to defeat it.

To her and others like her ... thank you. By example, you reassure us that, somehow, we will persevere.

For more, visit philipchard.com.

To read more Out of My Mind columns by Philip Chard, click here.

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The Meaning of Resilience - Shepherd Express