Welcome to The Compassionate Classroom and practicing well -being in the classroom, school, and everyday life. I never thought much of well-being until I came to understand it. My hope is that the following curated resources will assist your own well-being and offer an opportunity for collegiality and wellness.

I need to be real with my S’more followers. I, Caryn Sawlis, am terrible at self-care. I write about it. I talk about it, yet I have not been doing a great job of practicing it. I put everyone before me and then when I have nothing left I end up participating in self-sabotaging behaviors. I didn’t realize how bad it had gotten until I was riding in the car with my husband and my phone fell off my lap. I tried to reach down to pick up the phone, but I couldn’t because I had more of me in the way. All of the late-night chocolate chip and Oreo cookie eating had finally caught up with me. I also have been sick since the first week of December with this hard hitting flu. So, it is time I practice what I preach. I started the other day after a long day at work; I went to the gym. I felt so much better afterward. I went back to the low carb diet (I am terribly hungry) and I started drinking more water (I live in the bathroom). But I know I had to make a change and I am terrible at change. Baby steps, right? My first step was to go outside as much as I could. Watching sunsets, taking the dog for a walk, and trying to find the largest hawk in my area has become a new habit. I think this form of outdoor reflection is my small start at mindfulness. My next step was to become more mindful of what I am eating and how I am eating. (I was raised to eat fast). I am not going to profess that I should sleep more. That may take some time, but I will talk about connecting, not just to my family, but to people I do not know. We started this as a family by serving over 300 people Christmas Day at a local restaurant. Those connections have had an impact on our family and changed us all in many ways. Connect this year. Not as a resolution, but a way to make a difference in yourself and others.

Learn important information on how to help someone who may have suicidal thoughts or feelings. Download the suicide prevention wallet card (PDF) or click on the button below, which identifies warning signs, specific steps to help someone and resources to get help.

Website: https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/services/mental-health-substance-use/suicide-prevention-wallet-card.pdf

Dr. Bruce Perry is an American psychologist who has researched how trauma is toxic to the brain of developing children. Dr. Perry also advocates for connections and meaningful relationships and how important those positive relationships are for the child who has experienced trauma.

I got the chance to hear him speak in Dallas several years ago and he helped me really understand trauma and the brain.He is amazing. His books are amazing. His resources are amazing. I can't say enough about him so follow him. @BDPerry

Twitter: @BDPerry

Tip 2: Service Dogs have varying jobs or tasks. When you see a dog and a handler, the job may not be evident to you, or the general population. For example, some dogs will pull their handler toward a safe area and this may seen that the dog is anxious.Try not to assume anything.

Tip 3: Try not to make comments to the handler. For example, one person asked me. What kind of service dog are you Everly? Not everyone is comfortable sharing their disability.

You can, however, especially if you are a business ask: What three tasks does your dog do?

Website: https://statenews.com/article/2020/01/it-fills-my-soul-one-womans-goal-to-train-psychiatric-service-dogs-for-survivors

Email: Caryn.Sawlis@region10.org
Website: https://specialpopulations4.wixsite.com/traumasummit
Location: 904 Abrams Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 972-348-1582