Be EMPOWERED Teens & Youths is a project of The Auroveda Foundation–a non-profit organization that attempts to create a global community of healthy and educated individuals–offered locally at WellCome OM Center in Spring Hill. On a regular basis, Be EMPOWERED brings sunshine and healing to the lives of teens through online and in-person discussion groups for teens coping with the many worries, concerns, and situations facing today’s kids.
Now Sarina Singh, Program Director of Be EMPOWERED, also encourages young people to catch the rays of affirmative sunshine on the organization’s Facebook page. This daily online resource offers an endless stream of positive affirmations, practical and nurturing advice, plus concrete suggestions regarding how today’s teens can make the world a better place.
Teens who visit the Be EMPOWERED Facebook page will find affirmations that include “Stay true to you,” “Love yourself dude,” “Take care of yourself,” and “Keep being you.” Teens are encouraged to write and say aloud longer affirmations listed on the page, which also teaches others, even more, concrete methods of self-care. One post suggests healthy snack ideas for those who are stressed out from studying–anything from peanut butter to tofu, fruits to brown rice. Another suggests the preparation of a solution to soothe and repair fingernails that have been bitten in a show of anxiousness.
Page posts also challenge teens to express their creativity, suggesting doodling and other artistic activities, and to make a positive difference in their world.
“You don’t have to do giant things to make change happen,” one post states. “If everyone does something small and does it really well, it makes a huge difference.”
Be EMPOWERED even offers young people practical suggestions for educating others in regards to racism, sexism, etc.
Overall, the Be EMPOWERED Facebook page encourages teens to respect others–and themselves.
“I’m not trying to fit in,” the page declares in a particularly affirming post, “because I was born to stand out.”
Also seeking to affirm and inspire is Stuart artist Deborah Elaine, who won third place and a $350 prize in the Fine Arts division of the 36th Annual Art in the Park art competition. The Hernando County Fine Arts Council, along with premier sponsor Florida’s Adventure Coast, is honoring the judges’ winners from the 36th Annual Art in the Park, which took place March 14 and 15, at Tom Varn Park in Brooksville.
Deborah Elaine was honored for her original watercolors and fine art prints.
“Deb enjoys the expressiveness of the abstract and surreal nature of watercolor pouring. A unique style she developed when she was introduced to one of her mentors, Johnny Johnson. Her works are created allowing the medium to flow and become itself by utilizing
the pouring technique,” reads Elaine’s website (https://www.deborahelainedesigns.com/watercolors-pourings/). “The painting starts out abstract in design and become surreal in nature by developing subject matter that is created with her imagination and her references. The method Deb uses to create her compositions is similar to laying in the plush green grass gazing into the clouds seeing the ever-changing shapes that appear. Each painting is an expression and passion of hers.”
Elaine, in turn, yearns to pass her passion onto all who behold her work. In her official artist’s statement (https://www.deborahelainedesigns.com/artists-statement/), she outlines a mission to inspire through art.
“To Influence others through the creativity and subject of my work
To bring joy, laughter and happiness to others
To reflect God’s beauty or a feeling of expression that touches and moves others
To give a peace and hope to finding your own path in life
To give back what HE has given me”
What inspires you? Send your art, your affirmations, and other good news to Hernando Sun community reporter Megan Hussey at [email protected]. Show us your “Sun”shine!
