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Getting Through

I’ve been reading a lot online recently about stress and anxiety in teenagers, especially high school students. Instead of addressing that directly today, I have a question for you.

What got you through?

What was the thing (or things) that you lived for during those difficult years of your life? What made it possible to get up in the morning? What was the respite for you from the stress of school and adolescence?

For me, it was music. Listening to music, and singing in choral groups. Playing the guitar and writing songs at the piano. Oh, and creative writing. Much poetry, some short stories. Journaling.

What was it for you?

And what is it now for your child, if you have one in this age group? How can they release stress? What brings them joy? What gets them out of bed in the morning even if many things seem bleak?

Learning (and living) are meaningless without joy and the capacity to experience it. What are we doing to ensure our teens get enough of this essential ingredient?


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