This week’s teletherapy tip will focus on the importance of having an attitude of GRATITUDE! Being thankful and grateful should extend well beyond the holiday season and be a part of our daily lives. Of course, this time of year is when we take a pause to reflect on all the people, experiences and things we are grateful for. Starting each and EVERYDAY with this same level of gratitude can truly be a game changer in our overall mood and well-being. Having an attitude of gratitude really warms the soul and helps us to spread our light and JOY with others.
Today is GIVING TUESDAY. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people. Through your generosity, and the generosity of others, we collectively have the power to transform our communities. As a result, small acts can ultimately change the world! In the spirit of gratitude, and giving I wanted to share one of my favorite non-profit organizations.
Smiles for Speech
If you haven’t already heard of Smiles for Speech, it is an incredible cause to support and an amazing organization. Smiles for Speech is a non-profit organization created by speech language pathologist, Sandy Dorsey. Their mission is to foster global partnerships with teams of speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, and interdisciplinary volunteers working together with local programs to facilitate much needed access to resources for children and families from underdeveloped communities in primarily rural Ghana and Kenya.
I am very PROUD of the work that they are doing and I’m kindly requesting that YOU be a part of the movement today on Giving Tuesday. When you donate to Smiles for Speech every dollar will go towards in-person mission trips, teletherapy, training for teachers, parents and speech students. No amount is too small! A donation of just $5 can help provide internet service for a family to receive free teletherapy services. To learn more about the organization, or to volunteer, visit https://www.smilesforspeech.org/ or click the image below.
Spread Kindness and Positivity with an Attitude of Gratitude
The events of the past two years have truly been a challenge on so many levels. However, reflecting on the positive and focusing on things that we can control helps us get through difficult times. Exhibit an attitude of gratitude. Keep a gratitude journal or create a special box with positive affirmations. This is extremely important and needs to be taught to our children and students at a very early age. Set a good example and show students the power of small acts of kindness. This will ultimately help encourage them to do the same.
As SLPs, we have the luxury of working with our students in small group settings. These smaller, more intimate sessions are a great opportunity to allow students to express themselves in a meaningful way. Our therapy rooms, be it virtual or face to face, need to be a safe haven. Students should enter and exit feeling uplifted and better about themselves. I personally start each session by asking my students to, “tell me something good!” They have come to expect this and get excited to share a positive experience with me at the start of every session. This gives me an opportunity to praise them. As a result, I am able to show them my genuine interest in their overall well-being. If they don’t have something “good” to share we still talk it out and I capitalize on the opportunity to make them feel good about their strengths.
Make Generosity a Part of Your Journey
When we feel good, we are empowered to spread positivity with others. Above all, making generosity a part of our journeys creates a ripple effect of kindness. Challenge your students to give this Giving Tuesday. Giving can be in the form of shining their light and being kind to others. Brainstorm with them on ways that they too can give back. After that, develop a plan and help them carry out the mission to raise awareness for having an attitude of gratitude and making generosity a priority.
I am happy to support Smiles for Speech today and all year long. I truly hope you too will find it in your hearts to donate to them today!
As always, I hope this information is helpful and if you have any questions or concerns, please comment below or email me directly at belinda@bvgslp.com.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that the content of this and all previous/future blog posts are for informational purposes only. Be sure to abide by and follow your company’s policies and procedures. The information contained within are tips that have worked well for me in my therapy/teletherapy room.
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