By: Jodi Pickering I didn’t learn how to breathe until I was in college when a yoga teacher told me to stop sucking in my stomach with my breath. Like many twenty-somethings, I assumed she was simply incorrect. I mean, how could I take a deep breath in without sucking in my stomach? Society had instructed me to suck it …
Embrace Your Genius
“I believe that you are a genius and the world is worthy of you and all that you can contribute to the world to make it a better place, a safer place, and a more inclusive space to live.” That is what I have told my students since we began Genius Hour around 2012 from the first day of school. …
Mental Health Is Everything
My name is Kate Kranias, and I am a member of the 1n5 Youth Council for Suicide Prevention. Through my involvement with 1n5, I am able to advocate for adolescent mental health and work with like-minded peers to debunk stubborn stigmas. Mental health is everything. Really – it is. Brushing your teeth in the morning, calling a friend, cooking a …
Redefining Strength: A Journey Through Grief and Healing
The second worst call of my life came on September 11, 2019. The worst call came on May 19, 2021. The second worst call? They suspected my mom had pancreatic cancer, we just weren’t sure how bad, yet. The worst call? My dad saying three words that shattered me. “She died, Ivy.” All of the healing I had done previously …
We Are Always Becoming
Hi, reader! Abby here, I’m grateful to be the new Office Manager at 1N5. Thanks for spending some time on our blog. We are always becoming. It’s a beautiful reminder about our shared human experience, acknowledging that we are dynamic individuals; that we are malleable, we are impressionable, we are wildly adaptive, we are capable of transformation and growth. Allowing …
Reclaiming My Power as a Single Mom
After losing my mom one week after finding out I was pregnant, I didn’t think life could get much worse. But life had other plans for me and things did in fact, get worse. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be where I’m at right now. I never thought I would be going through a divorce …
The Diary of a Creative Mind
My name is Kamiah Vickers — I’m a NYC-based playwright and actress. As a creative, it’s important that my mental health is prioritized, as so often it’s easy to forget about it in a fast-paced industry. My goal is to help fellow creatives understand their creative conscious, and prioritize mental wellbeing. I think a lot—there are rarely moments when my …
Make It Sticky
By Kimberly Koland As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, a whole new year begins. Perhaps you, like me, often find yourself making grand resolutions, promising to improve your self-care life in significant ways. THIS IS YOUR YEAR FOR SELF-CARE! But, what happens after the initial excitement fades, and the real work begins? It is not like you wake …
The View Is Still There, You Just Have To Wait For The Clouds To Clear
Your dreams are still in view, they are just covered by some clouds, but the view is still there. My therapist reminded me of this recently. When 2025 started, I was so full of hope. I kept saying how 2025 was going to be my year. 4 days in, everything flipped upside down on me. My ex had lost his …
Finding My Own Path to Self-Care
Bennett Turan Self-care shouldn’t be defined in a certain manner. Self-care means a lot of different things. Finding the right self-care routine for myself felt like a struggle for a long time. Everyone had their own input on what would make me feel better. For a long time, self-care was a foreign concept. I was always on the go. Whether …