A Beautiful Start to Summer

[YYOL]

(From June issue"Fishful Thinking"-A Beautiful Start to Summer)

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As a parent and psychologist, I am concerned by how our kids are barraged by negative messages and ugly images of despair. Back when I was 10, if I saw the news I would see ugliness (crime, suffering, danger) that happened in my own community. Today, with the advent of the 24-hour news networks, our children can turn on the TV and see ugliness in every community around the world.

Fortunately, there is something we can do about it. Beauty is the antidote to ugliness. I'm not talking about supermodel beauty. I'm talking about the everyday beauty that surrounds us—dogwood trees in full bloom, lilies standing tall, the color of the sky as the last ribbon of the sun sets on the horizon or the red color of the bricks that make up the building across the street. June is a wonderful month to take notice of the beauty around you!

You can help your children stay positive and appreciate the goodness in the world by taking five minutes every day to go on a "Beauty Detour." Challenge your family to devote this time to simply stop, notice and name what is beautiful around you—no matter where you are. For example, if you are running errands, pull the car over and ask your children to name what they see that is beautiful—the colors of the cars as they race by, the way the light reflects on a puddle of water, the symmetry of the white lines in the parking lot.

By making it a practice to recognize what is beautiful as a family, you will be helping your children to see that they have the ability to pay attention to what makes their surroundings glorious, no matter how many messages they receive to the contrary!

Sincerely,Dr. Karen Reivich On behalf of the Goldfish® Team