“New year, new me.” It’s a mentality adopted around the world every January, typically met with fizzled results by month’s end. But we know there’s nothing magical about January— change only happens when we’re committed to making it. Resolutions that aren’t rooted in true desire and actionable ability are sure to be dismantled by our life’s daily habits. Wellness is the most-popular resolution adopted by Americans, including exercise and healthy eating, but as our society’s understanding of wellness grows, so too does our understanding of how to achieve it. Today’s girls are suffocated by feelings of anxiety, depression, and identity confusion. The pressures of society coerce them to reach for unattainable ideals, seek unhealthy validation, and live in a constant state of pressure. But Generation Z has tapped into something that recent generations have lost sight of—civic engagement, specifically in word and action for a deserving cause outside of our immediate circle, is an anecdote for self-centered, anxious thought. Volunteering is actually a gateway to mental wellness. Cultivating a Heart for Service While movies and television can lead us to believe that today’s adolescents are purely imageobsessed and self-centered, we know this is not the case. Truth to be told, girls love service because God designed humankind that way. The desire to serve is something He instilled in each of our hearts. We were created to live in God-honoring community, giving and receiving help, prayer, and support to one another. But service extends our care beyond our family and friends and reaches outward. Today’s youth 18 | AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS
are engaged and concerned for their communities, our nation, and our world. Young people sense a strong call to advocate and make change, and they are ready to respond. American Heritage Girls gives girls a chance to create meaningful change by serving in the community. American Heritage Girls of all ages are challenged to make a difference by putting ‘legs on their faith’ and often prove they have the hearts, skills, and creativity to serve others in a multitude of ways. From
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WELLNESS RESOLUTION: How Service Can Transform Your Girl This New Year
Pathfinders to Patriots, these young women for Christ can teach our culture a thing or two about answering the call to live an altruistic life. Girls nationwide are answering God’s call to serve through their AHG Troop, allowing them an opportunity to develop compassion, empathy, understanding, and respect for others. Serving a Solution According to the Center for Disease Control, anxiety and depression affect millions of children in the U.S., and their prevalence continues to rise. Reported findings show that 4.4 million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with anxiety, while another 1.9 million have been diagnosed with depression. Now, children face the possibility
