Women's LifeStyle Magazine - May 2020

Grand Rapids|Holland|Grand Haven

MAY 2020

VONNIE WOODRICK

LIVING WITH THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS

FR EE

COPING STRATEGIES • EMPOWERING WORKING MOMS

WHAT WE BELIEVE i understand suicide is an effect of an illness i understand mental illnesses are treatable i understand stigma is the #1 reason why someone would not seek treatment for mental illness; education and awareness are vital to saving and changing lives i understand reaching out to those who are suffering could save a life; let someone know you are available and treat them with respect and compassion i understand most people who are suicidal do not want to die; they want their pain to end i understand speaking out about suicide may empower others to share their stories i understand feelings of guilt are part of the grieving process on the way to finding peace and acceptance i understand those who die by suicide do make it to heaven

Call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255 If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

CLICK HERE FOR COVID-19 SUPPORT iunderstandloveheals.org/covid-19

Contents

May 2020 Edition #266

womenslifestyle.com

PUBLISHER Two Eagles Marcus EDITOR Elyse Wild editor@womenslifestyle.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Allison Arnold

FEATURES 8

Everyday Athena

18

Inspired Voices Podcast

20

Living with Rona

22

Starving: Surviving an Eating Disorder

26

Stigma: The Unique Mental Health Struggles of the LGBTQIA+ Community

28

Coping Skills for When We Experience Fight, Flight, or Freeze

30

momHIVE Empowers Working Moms

32

Single-Momming with Latehsa Lipscomb

Elyse Wild Kayla Sosa Michelle Jokisch Polo COLUMNISTS GROW Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Jessica Crosby

37

Hormone Replacement Therapy, pt 2

Kate Sage, DO

38

Physicians for the Prevention of Gun Violence Aim to Optimize Gun Safety

39

How to Develop Healthy Social Media Habits

Lindsey Tym Meredith Schickel Steve Lasater, MD Vonnie Woodrick PHOTOGRAPHY Two Eagles Marcus

FOOD & DINING 16

SALES sales@womenslifestyle.com (616) 951-5422 CALL (616) 458-2121

LEARN & DO 10

Keeping Calm in the Storm: Navigating Your Small Business in Uncertain Times

12

Reader’s Lounge

14

Invite Pollinators into Your Garden

15

Small Changes in Organization can Make a Big Impact in Your Home

34

Her Legacy: Suffragists at St. Cecilia

35

Decorating a Nursery

36

Welcome a 4-Legged Family Member with Care

EMAIL info@womenslifestyle.com MAIL 3500 3 Mile Rd NW, Ste A Grand Rapids, MI 49534 IN MEMORIAM Victoria Ann Upton Founder 1955 - 2018 To extend an uplifting, inclusive and vibrant invitation to enjoy life, every day, in our community.

Recipes Chinese Chicken Salad with Pecans Pecan Chicken Meatballs Pecan Banana Bread

ABOUT THE COVER

Vonnie Woodrick, Founder and Executive Director of i understand Photo by Two Eagles Marcus

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

West Michigan COVID-19 Business Coalition The West Michigan COVID-19 Business Coalition is a collaborative effort by several West Michigan organizations working to provide resources, guidance, and businesses services to the employers and employees of our community that have been affected by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.

Leaders from Experience Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Chamber and The Right Place, Inc. convened the coalition aimed at making critical information more accessible to all area businesses and their employees. Coalition members include Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (West MI), City of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., Kent County, LINC UP, Local First, National Business League, Inc., Urban League of West Michigan, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber and West Michigan Works!

COVIDWM.ORG

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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From the Editor We hope are and yours are well and safe. We are entering the second full month of life with COVID-19. As of this writing, Kent county has 1,822 cases and 39 deaths. As we consider these numbers, we are implored to remember that each represents a person who is loved.

It is OK to be exhausted of coronavirus coverage; in fact, it is recommended to create boundaries and limit your exposure to maintain your mental health right now. But while we set those boundaries, we can acknowledge those whose lives continue to be deeply upset by the pandemic and how existing inequities are compounding that impact. These episodes of the Inspired Voices podcast were created to help you engage with these facts and provide avenues of how you can help.

At Women’s LifeStyle, we have never been more proud of what we do. We have produced 17 episodes of our new podcast, with many more to come. We have pivoted to create an enriching digital space that connects you to the best of our community. And, we forge ahead doing what we do best: elevating the voices of women in our community to inspire others.

This month, we honor mothers and explore the great complexities of mental health.

On our cover is Vonnie Woodrick, founder and executive director of i understand, a nonprofit that offers compassionate comfort to those impacted by suicide and mental illness. Woodrick has fearlessly stripped away stigmatizing language and shared her own story with boundless grace in order to normalize conversations around mental health. In this edition, Woodrick writes a personal essay about struggling through coronavirus as her body and mind heal.

PHOTO BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

Allison Arnold bravely shares her story of overcoming an eating disorder that left her hospitalized as a teen. In a Q&A, Allisons’s mother Christina Arnold shares what her experience was like as she watched her daughter’s illness escalate and offers advice for other parents who may be facing the same thing. In “Stigma,” we learn of how societal bias has created unique mental health struggles in the LGBTQIA+ communities, and what we can all do to help. Additionally, learn how to cope when you experience fight, flight, or freeze, and develop healthy social media habits.

If you don’t already know about momHIVE, you’re welcome. The co-working space for women offers onsite childcare and has built a robust community in which working moms may thrive. Their brick and mortar space is closed due to coronavirus, but the community has been flourishing in its online platform.

Latesha Lipscomb and her eight-year-old son Caius are familiar faces to many in Grand Rapids: the two can often be seen at fundraisers, neighborhood association meetings, community events and celebrations. Lipscomb candidly tells us about her journey as a single mother and the intentionality with which she raises her son to find success and happiness as an adult.

We have tips and tricks to help you through the season: Rethink your family recipes; optimize your organization with items you already have; learn how to best bring a new four-legged friend into your family; find inspiration for your home with book suggestions by Kent District Library; and learn how to turn your garden into a pollinator’s paradise.

As a reminder, here are our top resources to help you navigate coronavirus: Grand Rapids Food Delivery and Takeout, Fund Established to Assist Undocumented Families, How to Safely Grocery Shop During Coronavirus, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss on Grand Rapids Coronavirus Resource, Coronavirus in Kent County and How You Can Help.

I hope you and yours remain safe and healthy in the coming days. I hope we can help you find joy. I hope we can inspire you to reach out to those who need it most. I hope that in all of this, we can continue to connect you to the best of our community. As always, we are in this together.

Women’s LifeStyle is a dynamic multi-media platform designed to make beneficial connections in our community. The positive, upbeat, award winning and popular locally owned publication is supported by a dynamic mobile friendly online presence and an interactive website, as well as friendly, helpful and consistent social media interaction with the community. Women’s LifeStyle is favored by an active, engaged and progressive audience. You are now looking at the 266th edition. All content ©Women’s LifeStyle, Inc. 2020.

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Spotlight on Community Initiatives

Join In

Sponsored by Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Grand Rapids Area Mutual Aid Network

An organization has formed to help fill the gaps of need in the Grand Rapids community, called the Grand Rapids Area Mutual Aid Network. Volunteers are needed to help pick up groceries and deliver to people who are not able to safely leave their homes. They will be reimbursed for the purchase. Volunteers with a background in counseling or social work are needed to help with emotional support for community members who may need it during this time. If you’re not able to volunteer, donations are needed to continue to help providing the most vulnerable of the Grand Rapids community with groceries, supplies and financial support. Volunteers are encouraged to fill out this form: tinyurl. com/GRAMANForm. Donations are being accepted here: tinyurl.com/ GGRMutualAid.

In The Image In The Image is a volunteer-run store supplying the community with clothes, furniture, and household items, free of charge, to those in need. In The Image is in need of laundered and clean clothing, personal hygiene products (unopened shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc), unopened cleaning supplies, basic necessities (toilet paper, hand sanitizer), and baby formula, diapers, and wipes. Click here to help.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth

in need of laundered and clean clothing, personal hygiene products (unopened shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc), unopened cleaning supplies, basic necessities (toilet paper, hand sanitizer), and baby formula, diapers, and wipes. Click here to help.her mobility equipment from homes or businesses of donors once or twice a week. For more information or volunteer, email AIM Executive Director Coleen Davis at coleen@aimgr.org.

Family Promise The mission of Family Promise of Grand Rapids is to end homelessness, one family at a time, by engaging faith-based and community organizations to provide emergency shelter and basic needs to families with children who are homeless and to provide additional programs to assist them in finding housing and sustaining their independence. The nonprofit reports an increase in need due to COVID-19 displacing families. While they have cancelled all volunteer opportunities, they are still in need of donations in order to help families survive this crisis. Click here to help.

Dégagé Ministries

You can’t volunteer at Dégagé Ministries at this time, as they have cancelled all volunteer opportunities through April 13 due to the pandemic; but you can still donate to the organization as it works hard to continue to serve our city’s most vulnerable population. You can donate a dollar amount or contribute to the organization’s Amazon Wishlist. Click here to help.

In The Image is a volunteer-run store supplying the community with clothes, furniture, and household items, free of charge, to those in need. In The Image is

We’re with you, West Michigan.

While many of us are apart, know we are holding you close to our hearts. Together, we will recover. grfoundation.org/covid19 Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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Everyday Athena Erin Fisk Founder and principal consulant of Fisk Solutions This is the fourth chapter in a series spotlighting members of our community who epitomize the Athena standards and live by its principles. Readers will come to know these women, the companies they are representing and the forward thinking employers who have a commitment to elevating women and fairly compensating those women for their contributions in their workforce.

The Athena principles: LIVING AUTHENTICALLY LEARNING CONSTANTLY ADVOCATING FIERCELY ACTING COURAGEOUSLY FOSTERING COLLABORATION BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS GIVING BACK CELEBRATING

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine: Aligning our authentic-self with our work can be one of the most challenging and rewarding endeavors. How does your work align with your authentic self?

Erin Fisk: I’ve always known that I was meant to help people. The ways that I’ve chosen to do that has evolved along with my career—and I suppose changing things up is a core part of who I am. I enjoy taking on new challenges and growing, personally and professionally, and seek adventure. So, starting my own business where I have flexibility on how I help others with their mental health has been an awesome experience!

WLM: When did you know that starting your own business was more in alignment with your authentic-self than continuing to work for others?

EF: I knew that I had more to offer than what my role in a corporate culture could promote. In my former role, I didn’t have the chance to invest in relationships as much as I do now. While I still have parts of my work that aren’t particularly thrilling, most of my time is spent creating connections with other people—which is my authentic jam. I love that the topic of mental health is something everyone can relate to, and I like to learn about what other people are searching for. I also really appreciate that I’m in control of the messaging I share around normalizing mental illness, struggle, treatment, loneliness, and recovery.

WLM: What are the challenges of living as your authentic self?

EF: Vulnerability. I support that vulnerable places are where we find greatest connection and growth—but sometimes it hurts! When I’m showing up and staying fully present, sharing the best I have to offer, and staying true to my values and it doesn’t go well—that’s a different kind of pain. But I’d rather take on the challenges of authenticity and vulnerability than feel the exhaustion of my old people-pleasing, chameleon ways. I used to cover up in an armor of what I thought other people wanted me to be. It was exhausting and I didn’t always know I was doing it. I used to think that if I could anticipate others’ needs and show up in a way that served them, then they’d validate my worth. Yuck! Hard to admit it but I know I’m not alone in having thought this was the way to succeed.

WLM: As a community of professional women, what can we do to create space and honor each other’s authentic selves?

EF: Allow each other to be versatile in our authenticity. I believe we have multiple versions of ourselves that can all be authentic. Depending on what’s going on in your life, you may show up differently. That’s ok—it doesn’t mean you’re not being genuine. In fact, giving permission for people to respond to their world and bring whatever’s happening forward without having to pretend that they’ve got it all together is more honorable of their authenticity.

WLM: How do you think living authentically impacts our ability to do meaningful work?

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ATHENA PRINCIPLE: LIVING AUTHENTICALLY EF: I think “meaningful” can be defined however it suits you, and when you know who you really are, you can spend time investing in work that brings you the greatest joy. If you’re living for other people—their expectations, style of leadership, approach to conflict resolution, even the way you structure your office or the career you choose—then you may miss the chance to do what really feeds your soul.

WLM: What advice do you have for anyone who might be struggling with aligning their authentic self?

EF: Take your time in learning who you are. When you feel like something is especially challenging or rewarding—take a few moments to think about the who, what, when, where and why of it. Who were you with when the experience happened? What were you talking about or doing at the time? How did you present your position? What time of day was it? How were you connecting? These moments give us clues into what we’re really living for. For example, I never thought I’d love being in front of large groups as much as I do, and recognizing that I feel so much fulfillment in those experiences has helped me shape my business.

If we allow ourselves to fly through these moments and move onto the next thing, struggles for alignment may keep popping up. The journey of alignment is never over. I don’t believe most humans reach that perfect apex where it’s all in balance. The practice of trying to find equilibrium is some of the most important work—not because of the destination, but because of what we learn along the way!

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Your Home, Your Sanctuary, Your Way Our Delight in Designs team is guided by one principle when working with you to enhance or redesign your space: Your home’s environment must be ripe with elements that bring you peace and restore your spirit.

Whether it’s a single accessory that speaks to your heart or a room full of delight, our designers curate the perfect elements to create a space where you can step back from your busy day and prepare yourself for tomorrow’s adventure!

Here, it’s all about YOU! Come and visit us at our store to begin the discussion, we know you will be glad you did!

With You

For You

At Emerald Meadows, we are dedicated to doing what’s best for you and your loved ones. We’ve made a promise that we’ll be here – With You, For You – no matter what. And it’s a promise that we take seriously now more than ever.

If you’re looking for a community that feels like home, and staff that become like family, choose Emerald Meadows.

Learn more at www.EmeraldMeadowsForYou.com

www.delightindesigns.com 5426 Northland Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 616.729.4301

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

EMERALD MEADOWS Assisted Living 6117 Charlevoix Woods Ct SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546

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COURTESY OF GROW

Keeping Calm in the Storm:

Navigating Your Small Business in Uncertain Times

T

hese are trying times for everyone, both emotionally and financially.

Small business owners are experiencing extreme pressure due to the lockdown on consumer activity, but we will get through these times with some important concepts for to keep in mind.

How You May be Feeling

Uncertainty can prompt a variety of feelings, few of them good. Fear and frustration top the list as small business owners struggle to plan in the face of a lot of unknowns. Yet it reminds us of the important things in life like our passion for family, friends and the activities we love.

As a small business owner, perhaps these were the reasons you started your business — to bring your unique talents to the world in service to others while providing for your family. These motivations guide us in life, not just business. Pandemics and economic swings won’t change that. Let these motivations strengthen you as you face down the challenges of uncertainty.

Ways to Tackle Uncertainty “We’re all adapting to changing circumstances for ourselves, our families, our businesses and our community. Be sure to give yourself grace and take a break from the news, work and your own thoughts. Take care of yourself mentally and physically.”

difficult times. Don’t resist it but don’t let it control you either. Acknowledging it with a sense of detachment helps keep you on top of things.

Get clear about what you can control and what you can’t. A major source of stress is worrying about things we can’t control. It may be helpful to list what you can control in one column, what you can’t control but can influence in another, and what you can’t control or influence in a third. Focus your energy on the first two columns and only think of the third column in terms of best case, medium case and worst case, but don’t obsess over it.

Plan

Planning allows small business owners to be decisive and nimble. One can’t account for every possible scenario, and a global pandemic and economic downturn was unlikely on anyone’s radar. However, some of the concepts from wise planning — lowering costs, maintaining cashflow, reaching customers in different ways — still apply.

Be kind to yourself; it’s normal to be stressed. It’s not uncommon to beat ourselves up for feeling anxious or stressed.

It is perfectly normal to be worried in

– Bonnie Nawara, CEO of GROW.

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

If you haven’t done much planning, take heart. Here are ways to reduce anxiety as you navigate uncertainty.

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Get creative.

For example, restaurants rapidly adapted to serving curbside and delivery when they were forced to stop dine-in service in early March. Restaurants provide meals in a specific place, but they quickly pivoted to providing meals in ways that weren’t dependent on physical location. The key concept to keep in mind is by asking yourself, “How can my business still provide a product/ service but in ways that don’t follow the traditional rules?”

Other examples: distillers in the area are making hand sanitizer, Hanes is making masks for healthcare workers, brands selling online are revenue sharing with brick and mortar retailers who were shut down. If you think about your business’ value chain—what you make/provide, how you make it, how you get it to customers, and who might be new customers—you will likely find opportunities for creative solutions.

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Keep close to customers.

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Remember, you are not alone.

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Government and other organizations can provide valuable support, but small business owners shouldn’t overlook their customer base. We all recognize the gravity of the times and one of the silver linings is that many people are showing their compassion and humanity by volunteering for those in need, rallying others and importantly, supporting small businesses. Let customers know that you are still operating, still seeking to serve them, will do so safely, and, frankly, that you need support.

Another challenge of uncertain times is feeling like you’re alone and don’t have help. The entire country is going through a difficult time; we’re all in this together. Not only can you reach out to your customers, you can also reach out to other business owners and organizations who support them.

Perhaps there are opportunities for collaboration that will help all concerned both financially and emotionally. Check out local Facebook groups and organizations like GROW, SpringGR, StartGarden, the GR Chamber and more.

Seek and accept help.

“Being mindful of your thoughts can be helpful in managing your emotions during times of uncertainty. Mindfulness of thoughts is letting thoughts come and go.

We simply notice them without trying to change or control them while recognizing that they are only thoughts. It allows you to radically accept it is nothing more or less than a thought, there is no need to judge them, just notice and let them go or let them be.”

— Dr. Valencia Agnew of Adolescent & Family Behavioral Health Services

Many organizations and the government at multiple levels are offering resources for small businesses to help them through these tough times.

GROW is a Women’s Business Center, and an SBA resource partner. We work closely with Michigan SBDC and other organizations. Which means, our staff is ready and able to help small businesses and connect them to additional resources like these.

Learn more at GROW’s resource page at growbusiness.org/covid.

Let customers know that you are still operating, still seeking to serve them, will do so safely, and, frankly, that you need support.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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Learn & Do

READER’S

by Meredith Schickel

S

pring is a perfect time not just for cleaning, but also for rethinking spaces and making them work better for you. Check out one of these great books to get inspiration and help with creating a space for yourself and everything in your life.

But Where Do I Put the Couch?

And answers to 100 other Home Decorating Questions

by Melissa Michaels and KariAnne Wood

Beautifully Organized: A guide to function and style in your home

by Nikki Boyd In Beautifully Organized, social media sensation Nikki Boyd hopes to inspire people to think of home organization not as a task, but rather an opportunity to express themselves. This beautifully photographed book will give you organizational tips that will allow you to spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your home life.

Bloggers from The Inspired Room and Thistlewood Farms help you answer all your home decorating concerns and to make the whole process less overwhelming. Whether you are starting from scratch or just interested in a space refresher, they will help answer questions about how to make your house your home, without breaking your budget.

The Kinfolk Home

by Nathan Williams A “slow” approach to crafting a home is all about intention—of slowing down, simplifying your life and cultivating community. The Kinfolk Home explores homes around the world where spaces are created based on the needs of the residents. These designers, architects and stylists share how their values and ideals shape their spaces in a way that benefits families and friends, no matter the size of the space or the community.

The Foraged Home

by Oliver Maclennan If you are looking for a way to create a sustainable, one-of-a-kind style in your home, this book will give you tips and design ideas to inspire you. With profiles of homes throughout the world, Oliver Maclennan shows just how easy and fashionable foraged style can be. From beachcombing to forest hunting to urban salvaging, these ideas will help you recreate these designs at home, and to go beyond mass-market items.

Meredith Schickel is an Adult Services Librarian at the Byron Township branch of Kent District Library. Although it may not always look like it from the state of her desk, she loves to organize and is always excited to learn more about style and design.

Invite Pollinators into Your Garden COURTESY OF MCC

A

thriving backyard garden requires homeowners to take steps to ensure the garden has the best environment in which to grow and thrive. The right tools and components, including trowels, rakes, soil, amendments, and fertilizer, can help gardeners create beautiful spaces. It’s also important that pollinators are made to feel welcome in the garden.

• Consider the soil and types of plants that will thrive in it before choosing what to plant. Fix drainage issues and plant with sunlight in mind.

The United States Department of Agriculture reports that one-third of all agricultural output depends on pollinators. The USDA notes that insects and other animal pollinators are vital to the production of healthy crops for food, fibers, edible oils, medicines, and other products. Pollinators also are essential for maintaining habitats and ecosystems that many wild animals rely on for food and shelter.

• Group plants together when planting to more effectively attract pollinators.

The U.S. Forest Service says that, without pollinators, the human race and all of the earth’s terrestrial ecosystems would not survive. Pollination done the natural way often yields large, flavorful fruits.

Pollinators are make-or-break components of large-scale agriculture, and they’re just as important in private home gardens. The Pollinator Partnership, an organization that works to protect pollinators and their habitats across North America, says pollinators include bees, butterflies, beetles, birds, and bats. These animals travel from plant to plant carrying pollen on their bodies. The following are some ways to maintain healthy pollinator habitats.

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• Vary the colors and shapes of plants to attract a greater array of pollinators. Plant flowers close to vegetable gardens to attract pollinators.

• Select plants that flower at different times of the year so that nectar and pollen sources are available year-round.

• Whenever possible, choose native plants.

• Avoid the use of pesticides.

• Provide a water source for pollinators, such as a shallow dish with stones halfsubmerged for perching.

Pollinators are important for gardens, whether those gardens are commercial operations or small backyard plots. Allow pollinators to share spaces and be mindful of behaviors that can threaten their survival.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Small Changes in Organization Can Make a Big Impact in Your Home

BY LYNDSEY TYM

S

mall changes = big results. How many of us have heard this expression before? I know I’ve heard it many times in my life and it has not been until the last few years that I have started acknowledging it enough to put it into practice.

One of the frustrations I hear from my client’s time and time again is that they wish they could keep their house more organized but don’t feel they have enough time for it. I try to reassure clients that you do not have to be naturally organized to stay organized, and you do not always have to block out large amounts of time to get organized. How to accomplish this if you are someone who cannot or does not want to set aside larger amounts of time to getting organized is to make small changes which result in a huge impact.

The quickest way to get started by making small changes is to utilize what you have on hand to establish systems that are easy to maintain. It is not always necessary to go out and purchase matching storage containers and totes. While this can be very helpful, it can also add a lot of time (and money) to getting organized. Regardless of what you are trying to organize, it is likely you have handy storage solutions in your home already.

When kick-starting your organizing, start by tackling smaller areas like a kitchen cupboard or bathroom drawer first. Smaller areas are faster to organize than diving into a whole room right away. When organizing the smaller area, think about how you use it and what you have available that can help keep it organized. Here are a few tricks that I use in my home: Glass yogurt containers to store like items in my bathroom. One container for bobby pins, one for hair ties, one for Q-tips, and so on. I clean the glass yogurt

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

containers after I have finished with them and then find uses for them all over the bathroom.

Shoe boxes to store similar items in our pantry. Because they are not on display, I don’t mind that the boxes don’t all match. I store jelly and jam in one, condiments in one, extra spices in another, and so on. It is easy to know where to go for an item because everything isn’t jammed together randomly on shelves. It is also easier to notice when I’m getting low on something because like items are stored together.

Glass jars to store baking items and other dry goods.

After I’m finished with a pickle jar or jelly jar, I wash them and keep them on hand for future use. They are currently in my pantry storing chocolate chips, pistachios, baking powder, and so on. Storing items this way again makes it easier to know when something is running low and also easier to locate when you need it because you aren’t digging through half used bags and boxes of items.

Regardless of what you are trying to organize, it is likely you have handy storage solutions in your home already.

There are so many different ways to use things you already have to setup systems to stay organized in your home. In many cases when you are organizing smaller areas, you are organizing things that are not immediately in view and then don’t necessarily need all matching storage solutions.

If you are someone who wishes they had a more organized home, try making some small changes and see how they make a huge impact. If you are someone who wishes they had a more organized home but would still like some help – hire a home organizer.

Happy organizing!

Lyndsey Tym, owner of Simple Spaces, desires to help others declutter and simplify in their homes to free up time for the things they love. Learn more at facebook. com/simplespaceslyndseytym.

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FAMILY FRIENDLY WAYS TO RETHINK FAVORITE RECIPES

F

reshen up family dinners by adding new ingredients like pecans, with natural richness and subtle sweetness coupled with irresistible crunch.

Kitchen staples are being used to add twists to traditional dishes, so finding an item you can use to mix up classic family recipes is key. Pecans pack flavor, texture and nutrition all in one bite, and they have a long shelf life. Shelled pecans can be kept in airtight containers in the refrigerator for about nine months and for up to two years in sealed plastic bags in the freezer.

Chinese Chicken Salad with Pecans Dressing 1/4 cup pecan butter 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons warm water, plus additional as needed (optional)

Salad 4 ounces dried thin rice noodles cold water 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce 4 cups chopped iceberg lettuce 1/4 cup toasted and chopped pecans 2 scallions, finely chopped 1 cup bean sprouts 1/2 cup crispy wontons 1 cup mandarin oranges 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 2 cups rotisserie chicken breast, chopped To make dressing: In medium bowl, whisk pecan butter, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil and soy sauce until smooth.

Add 2 tablespoons warm water and whisk until incorporated. Add additional water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if desired, until dressing reaches pourable consistency.

To make salad: Cook rice noodles according to package instructions.

Once cooked, drain and transfer to bowl with cold water to keep from sticking.

In large bowl, toss romaine and iceberg lettuces, pecans, scallions, bean sprouts, crispy wontons, mandarin oranges and sesame seeds.

Divide salad among four plates; top each with 1/2 cup chicken and serve with dressing.

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Pecan Chicken Meatballs 1 1/4 1 1 1 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1

pound ground chicken cup spinach, chopped tablespoon fresh lemon juice egg teaspoon minced garlic teaspoon onion powder teaspoon paprika teaspoon salt teaspoon pepper teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) cup finely chopped fresh pecan pieces, divided

Heat oven to 400 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

In large bowl, mix ground chicken, spinach, lemon juice, egg, garlic, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne (if desired) and 1/2 cup pecans until well combined.

Roll chicken mixture into 1 tablespoon- sized meatballs.

Place reserved pecans in bowl. Roll meatballs in pecans to coat then place on prepared baking sheet.

Bake 20-30 minutes until meatballs are cooked through. Serve warm with sauces for dipping or over pasta.

Pecan Banana Bread 10 ounces gluten-free baking flour mix 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 2 flax eggs 1 cup organic brown or coconut sugar 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/2 vanilla bean 1/2 cup vegan yogurt 3/4 cup mashed bananas, ripe 1 cup raw pecan pieces, chopped, plus additional for topping

medium-low speed.

Scrape vanilla bean and add to mixture.

Add vegan yogurt and mashed bananas; mix 2 minutes on medium-low speed.

Remove bowl from mixer and fold 1 cup raw pecan pieces into batter until evenly distributed.

Add batter to banana bread pan and use spatula to smooth down top. Sprinkle additional pecan pieces on top.

Heat oven to 350 F. Prepare 9-by-5-inch banana bread pan.

Bake banana bread on top rack 60 minutes until toothpick comes out with few crumbs but not completely clean.

In medium bowl, sift flour mix, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt; whisk to combine.

Remove from oven and allow to cool 10 minutes in pan. Hold sides of pan and flip onto wire rack.

In mixer bowl, mix eggs, sugar and coconut oil 2 minutes on

Allow bread to cool completely. Slice as desired.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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Inspired Voices PODCAST w/ Elyse Wild

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Living with Rona

BY VONNIE WOODRICK | PHOTO BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

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someone who asked a series of questions. I was then given a scheduled time to talk to someone who would “screen” me to see if I needed a test. Tests were very hard to come by and extremely limited at that time.

Rona has invaded my space, my health and my everyday basic living. Rona has not been my friend. Rona has caused increased anxiety and has led me to discover my fears of the unknown. What is going to happen? Will I lose my job? Will there be a cure?

Since I did not have a fever, I was told to wait it out but if a fever or shortness of breath occurred, to call my doc.

I never really felt that bad, and my thermometer was broken. Or perhaps I just didn’t know how to operate it correctly? I experienced chills, which can be a sign of a fever.

Spending time in LA visiting a friend in the sunny, warm mountains of California was just what this girl needed in late February. The walks, the talks, the mountain air, along with alone time reflecting on the need to get away, was revitalizing. I realized during this time that you don’t really know how much you need time away and time to yourself until you experience it. It was a beautiful discovery.

Symptoms didn’t change. Another screening, and once again, denied a test. After twelve days of staying at home and feeling pretty normal, I went to the grocery store and visited a friend, social distancing as best as I could.

I didn’t believe I had COVID-19 the day I went out, especially as the professionals didn’t think I needed a test.

I stayed in for those twelve days, keeping my distance and following the guidelines. I was good to go. Right?

Feeling rejuvenated and connecting with an inspiring friend who has a daily routine of walking, admiring the beauty around her, appreciating the gifts she has been given and expressing this through her art was refreshing.

She is living her best life, recognizing her needs and, perhaps for the first time, fulfilling them. A beautiful sight to see. I was renewed.

The next day, I was hit hard. A sore throat, chest pressure and headache came on like a thunderbolt out of nowhere.

This lasted for days, and a fever came in the form of sweating profusely, drenched with wetness that became somewhat worrisome, as thoughts raced through my mind: “Do I have coronavirus? Does my daughter have it? Will my aging parents get it? I wonder if I’ll die?”

Another phone call to the doctor. The doctor expressed that I had “typical” coronavirus symptoms. It was time to self-quarantine for 14 days and rest. If a fever or shorten of breath persists, I was to call her back.

iving with Rona hasn’t been easy. She has taken away the normalcy of spending time with family, holding girls’ nights out with friends and taking care of basic healthcare needs, such as going to the dentist or an eye appointment.

I was ready to get back on track, set new goals for my nonprofit – i understand, an organization I began after my husband’s death by suicide, a side effect of depression – and acknowledge the “me time” I need. I set forth to do so.

Rona had a different plan.

I flew back to Grand Rapids, MI on February 29th.

Flying home was much different than flying into Burbank. Flying in, COVID19 was beginning to surface, as there were whispers of cases in the United States. There were many people with masks throughout the airport.

The fear was beginning to rise.

On March 9, my family gathered at a local restaurant to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. Everything was pretty normal that day: we laughed, we cheered, we ate and she blew out her candles. Little did we know, things would change in a very short time.

On March 11, I was struck with the flu, with a bout of stomach pain followed by many trips to the bathroom.

It’s a nightmare, as those know who have experienced the “coming out of both ends at the same time” for hours. It did pass, and I felt better, but better didn’t last.

For days, I felt as if I was on the verge of something, maybe a cold? I messaged my doc, and I was told to call the coronavirus screening line. I did. I first chatted with

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Currently, I have exceeded my fourteen-day quarantine.

Do I feel better? Not really. My sore throat has become more of a dry throat, my chest pain is still present and my headache persists. I have times of feeling OK, and I sleep very well,probably due to the DayQuil and NyQuil I It helps. My doctor has said that this is a very long virus that will take time to work through. It could be weeks before I finally am able to kick Rona out of the house.

Rona has invaded my space, my health and my everyday basic living. Rona has caused increased anxiety and has led me to discover my fears of the unknown.

What is going to happen? Will I lose my job? Will there be a cure?

My anxiety continues to increase, as each day goes by with no answers, no solutions and no end in sight for the dreaded houseguest that has invaded me and my home.

Rona, it’s time to go. I continue to fight against her by following the doctors’ advice and taking care of me the best I can through this time of uncertainty. I will fight Rona, and I will win.

Every day brings hope for answers, vaccines and treatment. Please, do your part to keep coronavirus from being a part of your life. Follow the guidelines.

Stay home and wash your hands. Together, we will get through.

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Starving

BY ALLISON ARNOLD

Surviving an Eating Disorder

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hen describing how her depression began, Elizabeth Wurtzel, in her book Prozac Nation, refers to a scene in The Sun Also Rises where Mike Campbell describes going bankrupt, “gradually and then suddenly.”

I read The Sun Also Rises about a year after I was discharged from the adolescent psychiatric ward.

That was nine years ago.

It’s my favorite book, and I often find myself reading it when I feel myself beginning to sink.

I don’t know why.

My grandfather and I used to sit at a picnic table slicing watermelon into rings, chopping them in half, and nibbling at them until it was just the rind, resembling a thin crescent moon. We would spit the seeds out into a bucket while telling each other stories.

He moved in with us after my grandmother died and when he began deteriorating from cancer. I was a sophomore in high school, trying to find my way.

In grade school I had obsessive-compulsive disorder

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to the point I would wash my hands until they bled. In middle school, I was sent to a therapist for depression. And in high school the mix of anxiety and depression boiling up in my blood for fifteen years, erupted into chaos.

One night my mom made dinner, and I remember feeling good about the fact that I went to bed slightly hungry.

At Thanksgiving, I remember feeling confident wearing a new outfit my mom bought me because many of my clothes were too big. I said the dinner prayer and tears fell down my grandfather’s face.

I began obsessing over food. I would eat a piece of fruit and a granola bar at lunch. I would obsess over what was for dinner. If I ate too much I would break down.

The thing is, I was never consumed by my body image or weight, and all of a sudden I was a 15-yearold throwing tantrums, terrified of getting fat for eating a bite too much, or feeling full. While the lack of calories and nutrients in my body made me highly irrational, I recall knowing that I was thin, even too thin. It was the feeling of control that

One night my mom made dinner, and I remember feeling good about the fact that I went to bed slightly hungry.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

The one common thread is that they never quite make sense, but all involve food, and using it as a means to enforce some level of control, in a world where you can’t. kept me going, only intensifying my fits if I slipped up. One of the last days before my grandfather died in the hospital, I had a near meltdown when the family was ordering sandwiches for lunch.

When they decided to stop his treatment, I remember holding his hand and I promised him I would take care of myself.

He died in February, a month later I turned 16 and a couple weeks after, at 72 pounds, I was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, diagnosed with depression and anorexia nervosa. I agreed to go, but not at first. Admitting something was wrong and healing were both things I also needed to control.

But when I saw the terror in my mother’s face as she received a phone call telling her that if I continued living this way I could end up dead, a switch flipped in my brain. And that’s something I do know.

My parents weren’t the only ones tired and terrified of my tantrums and rages of anger, but I was. I wanted things to be fixed. I didn’t want to die. At that moment, I would do anything to take away both my pain and that of my parents, and the one thing I had to give up in order for that to happen was control.

Within a few hours I went from independent to having someone stand outside the door while I went to the bathroom and having a nurse jab my veins every morning before dawn to check my blood. In some way, giving up all my independence was the most independent, powerful thing I could do.

Throughout my therapy sessions, I made the staff know that I was there because I wanted to be there, and because I truly wanted to get better. I know doctors trained to treat patients with mental and behavioral disorders have to question you, but I truly did. I wanted my life back, my life before everything spun out of control.

As nutrients began to fill my body, I began to see clearly. The use of food that was once being used to kill me, was now my drug to clarity.

My treatment eventually progressed to outpatient and then I was fully released. I had doctors and dieticians in place to help me carry out my recovery. At times I would still struggle with food, but the real struggle was learning to separate behaviors from emotions.

THE AUTHOR ON A TRIP TO COSTA RICA AFTER BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL.

While I no longer struggle with an eating disorder, anxiety and depression still bubble up at times, but I’ve learned how to cope. They, along with the perfect, but unfortunate series of events, are the only explanation for what erupted.

Eating disorders, from anorexia to bulimia to binge eating, aren’t one size fits all. They present themselves in various ways, stemming from a variety of triggers, emotions and traumas; never at once, but creeping in until they consume you. The one common thread is that they never quite make sense, but all involve food, and using it as a means to enforce some level of control, in a world where you can’t.

Today it would never cross my mind to starve myself of food, which makes looking back and trying to figure out what happened, all the more perplexing. What I do know is that I’m thankful; thankful to be sitting here today simply thinking about it.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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Q&A

with Allison Arnold and her mother, Christina Arnold Allison Arnold: When was it that you noticed I had a problem with eating?

Christina Arnold: You started to get really particular about your food and portions and constantly asking what we were going to eat. After you would eat something you would question did you eat too much, was it going to make you fat. You started to constantly obsess about that. I think the first time that I really noticed was when you had that sweetheart dance and I took you to look at dresses.

You got some dresses and you were trying them on and all of a sudden I started crying because I realized how gaunt you were and how thin you had gotten, so I think it really clicked with me, the severity of what was going on with you.

as a parent because I was afraid for you, I was just terrified. To this day it was one of the hardest things that I’ve ever had to deal with as a parent with you.

It was heartbreaking because I knew I couldn’t fix it, but that I had to help you fix it.

AA: What advice would you give to other parents that may be experiencing similar things?

CA: Don’t ignore any of those warning signs or symptoms, to keep close to your kids, and I’m not just saying girls, I’m saying boys too. I think a lot of times it’s just associated with girls and young women, but it’s males as well. Don’t be afraid to talk about it and don’t be afraid to seek and support help before it escalates.

AA: What was it like for you as a parent?

AA: What are some of the warning signs?

CA: Oh my gosh, I still think about that and it was the most devastating thing to go through with you

CA: The anxiety around eating, portions, what you’re going to wear, how

you look, those kinds of things, just a noticeable difference in behaviors.

AA: Given my history with obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety, which more or less morphed into an eating disorder, what signs outside of body image would you say to look out for?

CA: You were always a very intelligent child and very bright and so I think often with gifted children, come many challenges as well, that quest to be perfect, to always be number one. You were always very driven to do your best and succeed academically.

As a parent I think when your kids are really driven, that you really have to keep track of what they’re doing and how they’re balancing things, because that anxiety and quest for perfection is all about control and eating disorders and anorexia, as you know, are focused on control. When you can’t control other things in your life, you turn to what you can control.

Connect from home.

200+ local, licensed therapists Clinicians from our 14 West Michigan locations are available to help with anxiety, depression, addiction, parenting issues and more during the COVID-19 crisis through teletherapy. Visit our website to learn more and set up your first appointment.

pinerest.org/teletherapy

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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Stigma

The Unique Mental Health Struggles of the LGBTQIA+ Community

BY MICHELLE JOKISCH POLO

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esearch tells us that LGBTQIA+ individuals are nearly three times more likely than others to experience a mental health condition. Some of the most common diagnoses are suicidal ideation, substance abuse, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Factors like confronting stigma and prejudice, fear of coming out, discrimination in housing, schools and employment opportunities, rejection from families contribute to why LBGTQIA+ individuals are more likely than others to suffer from a mental health condition, according to Amy VerWay, a therapist at River City Psychological Services.

“No one is immune to trauma but the queer community is more likely to suffer from trauma because it can be more difficult for them to be accepted for who they are,” she explained.

VerWay specializes in working with individuals across the gender and sexuality spectrum and has been a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and is on a path to become a World Health Organization practitioner

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to be able to provide care for trans people in our community. A staggering reality, she says, is that in the already marginalized community that is the queer community, trans women of color tend to be the most marginalized.

According to the 2019 report from the Human Rights Campaign, the reason why trans women of color are more likely than others to encounter violence is that they are not only dealing with racism but they are also experiencing discrimination because of their gender identity. And it is these intersections that may force transgender and gender non-conforming people to work outside of the formal economy in situations where they may be more likely to f ace violence.

“There is a lot of physical violence that can be directed towards trans females especially towards trans youth because there are a lot of misconceptions and push back when they want to use a bathroom or a space that aligns with the gender they identify with,” VerWay said.

And VerWay’s assessment is correct with the ways that trans youth across the country continue to face pushback when attempting to use a bathroom

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

BECAUSE WEST MICHIGAN IS A PARTICULARLY MORE CONSERVATIVE AREA THAN SAY NEW YORK CITY OR SAN FRANCISCO, BEING QUEER IN WEST MICHIGAN CAN BE HARDER THAN ANY OTHER IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

“I have noticed there has been a climate change for acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individual, but the burden here is still on queer people to do the work to be accepted within the community at large.”

— Amy VerWay

that aligns with the gender they identify with. This was the case of Gavin Grimm, who was banned from using his public school’s bathroom because he had not gone through sex reassignment surgery. Grimm spent several years fighting his case in court until last summer when a federal judge ruled that his constitutional rights had been violated by the Gloucester County School Board.

These continuous difficulties to fight the denial of basic needs and services are what puts trans youth at a higher risk, according to VerWay, and the data shows this in that trans youth are more likely than other youth to consider and attempt suicide according to data from the Human Rights Campaign.

Because West Michigan is a particularly more conservative area than say New York City or San Francisco, being queer in West Michigan can be harder than any other in parts of the country.

“I have noticed there has been a climate change for acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individual, but the burden here is still on queer people to do the work to be accepted within the community at large,” shared VerWay. Today, during the time of coronavirus, as cases of the virus continue to rise both locally and globally, it’s more important than ever to support those who are bearing the greatest burdens from the pandemic. With higher rates of HIV and cancer LGBTQIA+ population are more susceptible to the virus, according to data from GLAAD, a media advocacy organization. No matter whether you identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+

community, VerWay says you can be a support to this community. She says you can start by listening, checking in with one another, donating if you are able to local mutual aid funds or directly to the queer person in your life who is struggling, being open-minded and not assuming that everyone in your inner and outer circle is straight.

“Confront your own biases and prejudices, even if it makes you uncomfortable,” VerWay explained.

If you or someone you know is looking for support, or a place to ask questions about gender identity and sexual orientation, be sure to check out some of the groups hosted at the Grand Rapids Pride Center.

There is a group for everyone, whether you are a youth, a parent or a queer adult looking for the community there is a group for you. For more information on when and where the groups meet please visit grpride.org.

Michelle Jokisch Polo is a Grand Rapidian transplant from El Salvador & Ecuador. She loves asking questions and will take any opportunity to do so. She is passionate about creating spaces where intersectionality is encouraged and marginalized voices are elevated.

SPONSORED CONTENT

COPING SKILLS FOR WHEN WE EXPERIENCE

FIGHT, FLIGHT OR FREEZE

BY KELLY BOPRIE, LMSW

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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e are living in a time where things have changed, and have changed rather quickly. Our WAFs (worries, anxieties and fears) seem to be much more present, and many of us are experiencing worries and fears that we haven’t ever expected to be presented with. Perhaps, in this very moment, your brain may be trying to “figure out” what is going on.

Bare with me for a moment as we go down a road of a brief introduction to neuroscience …

Our neocortex, or prefrontal cortex, is a part of our brain that likes and needs accurate information. Without it, we experience uncertainty…uncertainty of what is to come, what the future may hold, and uncertainty of how long our “normal” life may be disrupted.

When the prefrontal cortex or ‘thinking” part of our brain can’t seem to make sense of what is, when it can’t problem solve for the future, the body will often respond with panic, where we then start to move into the “alarm” portion of our brain, called the amygdala.

Our amygdala is the part of our brain that is scanning for a threat, and will often interpret a perceived threat as a real threat, which can throw our bodies into a fight, flight, freeze response, activating our sympathetic nervous system. The amygdala can override our cortex or “thinking brain” which is why it can seem like we can’t think our way out of our WAFs.

Fight, flight or freeze may look like: • • • • • • •

Difficulty breathing An increase in heart palpitations Shortness of breath Muscle tension Feeling hot or flush Headaches Nauseous

• • •

Experiencing diarrhea Tingling in our fingers or toes Tunnel vision

We can recognize these as symptoms of our body being stuck in the sympathetic nervous system, i.e., in a state of panic, fight, flight or freeze. We need to practice coping skills that can calm our body and mind down, so that we can get back to our thinking brain.

Some of the most effective coping skills to use when in a state of panic or when we notice physical symptoms of anxiety in our body include:

Deep breathing or belly breathing.

We can lie down on our floor, sit in our chair, stand straight, and practice this skill anywhere. We want to take deep breaths where our belly actually expands instead of our chest. We can make it fun and practice this with our kids, too!

Grounding exercises.

In these exercises, we focus on what is going on in our body or in our immediate environment instead of getting stuck in the downward spiral of our thoughts.

My favorite grounding exercise is called 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 where we use all 5 of our senses to ground. For example, I will name: 5 THINGS I SEE in my environment around me (my desk chair, bookcase, glass of water, stapler, computer screen) 4 THINGS I FEEL (my hair, my back pushing firmly into my chair, my feet planted on the ground, the couch I am sitting on) 3 THINGS I HEAR (my kids in the background, my fingers typing away at my computer keys, and the sound machine in my office)

We need to practice coping skills that can calm our body and mind down, so that we can get back to our thinking brain.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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BY KAYLA SOSA | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MOMHIVE

momHIVE Empowers Working Moms

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hen Megan Dimmer joined momHIVE last October, it was because she wanted to be able to do it all: build up her marketing business, meet with her team, get work done outside the home and have affordable daycare for her twin toddlers.

MomHIVE is a coworking space for women in Grand Rapids that provides on-site childcare. Located in a renovated house in Eastown, the space serves about 32 members a month and six children a day. There’s flexible seating and coworking space, meeting rooms and a kitchen.

“The one thing I loved, beyond having the childcare, is just the energy of the people there — they’re all there to get stuff done,” Dimmer said. “At coffee shops, it can be really distracting because people are there for a variety of reasons and at home it’s distracting because I don’t have

anyone to watch my kids, so then I’m always on-call.”

About a year ago, Alyssa Cairns was always on-call. She was working from home and taking care of her kids while trying to scale her interior design business. She met Kelli Palm and, after surveying Facebook mom communities, the pair co-founded momHIVE. “We knew it needed to be a space that was uniquely designed for women,” Cairns said. “We also knew having an element of childcare was going to be crucial because that’s the thing all of us were missing, was having a place to put our kids while we work.”

Childcare at momHIVE is offered for four hours a day and is determined by the member mothers’ monthly schedules. The more childcare hours needed, the higher the cost of membership. Mothers have to stay in the coworking space while their child is being supervised.

MOMHIVE FOUNDERS ALYSSA CAIRNS AND KELLI PALM

“Working moms, they don’t necessarily want to quit their jobs, but they also feel enormous social pressure and personal pressure to be a good mom and be a good employee. Remote work actually gives you the independence of time and location to do the mom stuff and do the work stuff.”

— Alyssa Cairns

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

“We’re not a daycare where you can drop your kids off and leave,” Cairns said, adding that there are plans to expand childcare hours in the future. “We grow with the demand.”

Cairns said it was a priority for the space to be welcoming and not feel like a corporate office.

“There are blankets on the couch for you to curl up in if you’re cold, the chairs are household style instead of office style,” Cairns said. “All of the artwork in the space is done by local female artists who are also mothers.

We provide coffee, tea, decaf herbal tea ... We always keep some kid snacks like goldfish and fruit snacks on hand for the kiddos. We have a space that’s designated for private pumping or nursing sessions if you need the privacy.”

In addition, all bathrooms are stocked with diapers and wipes to make the space as family-friendly as possible.

When Dimmer transitioned from working at home on her marketing agency to being based out of momHIVE, her client base grew to 15 and she was able to hire four team members. Both her clients and employees include women she met through the momHIVE. Now, with many people staying home because of the COVID-19 global pandemic, momHIVE and tinyHIVE are closed for the time being. Cairns said an online platform has been launched, but times like these are a painful reminder why this kind of service is needed for working moms.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

“The number one thing that women ask of their employers to stay fulfilled in their jobs after they have kids, is flexibility,” Cairns said. “Working moms, they don’t necessarily want to quit their jobs, but they also feel enormous social pressure and personal pressure to be a good mom and be a good employee. Remote work actually gives you the independence of time and location to do the mom stuff and do the work stuff.”

While momHIVE members have been able to congregate on an online platform sharing inspiration, homeschooling resources and connections, Dimmer says moms need more than support.

“Because of the craziness of being at home and running a business, I just don’t have time to engage with it,” Dimmer said. “I’m literally having to slow down what I can do in a day in order to be present to my kids and have my business still be possible. I think every mom from momHIVE is feeling that too. The online (platform) is great, but it doesn’t give us what we actually need, and that’s a space where our kids can be entertained and be separate from us and still have that community and get stuff done.”

Kayla Sosa is a multimedia journalism student at GVSU. She’s a local freelance writer and enjoys spending time with her husband, her kitty and her family. When she’s not writing, she likes to go on nature walks, do yoga and paint.

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BY ELYSE WILD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE SMITH

Single-Momming with Latesha Lipscomb

Latesha and Caius Lipscomb are familiar faces to many in Grand Rapids. The dynamic mother-son duo can frequently be seen at community events, neighborhood association meetings and fundraisers.

“He goes everywhere with me,” Lipscomb said.

She laughs and adds that her eight-year-old son, “is more popular than me.”

Lipscomb has been deeply involved in the community for many years. Along with owning and operating her signature concierge cosmetic service, I GOT FACE, she has worked for various nonprofits, including the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute and the Inner City Christian Federation. Today, she is the engagement relationships manager for Amplify GR, a nonprofit that seeks to create equity in some of Grand Rapids’ most under served neighborhoods: Madison Square, Cottage Grove and Boston Square.

“We want to amplify that good that already exists in the neighborhood,” Lipscomb explained. “We don’t want to be the hero of the story, but to function as a quarterback. As an engagement manager, I have the honor and privilege to work with residents to make sure we are constantly uplifting their voice and honoring their priorities.”

Lipscomb said that the organization was just gaining momentum with the success around one of their main initiatives, the Boston Square Together Collective Design Process, when coronavirus hit.

“COVID came at a time when we were kind of on a roll in terms of giving the people what they want to see in their neighborhood,” she said. “We have now to be very creative

“I think there is a focus, passion and fire that single moms have because we are trying to compensate for all of the voids that our children may face.”

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

with how we continue to engage with the people we serve.”

Amplify GR partnered with the Family Independence Initiative to create a relief fund that provides $500 to qualifying individuals whose employment has been impacted

by COVID-19.

“Being able to offer funding to that single mom or single dad, or that person who doesn’t know who they are going to pay their rent or where their next meal is going to come from has truly been a blessing,” Lipscomb expressed. “To be able to collaborate in new way ... there is something about struggle — struggle will bring people together. You should never underestimate what a small group of people can do when they are working toward a common goal.”

A New Normal

Like many working mothers, Lipscomb’s routine has been drastically impacted by coronavirus; now, she balances work, motherhood and schooling at home.

“I miss my old life,” she laughed. “COVID has been two things: it has been enlightening and it has been frustrating in terms of our mother-son relationship. I am very intentional about the time and energy and passion I pour into my child, and one of the ways I balance that is by taking time off to take a trip every year with myself and friends, and then Caius and I would also take a trip together. Now, all trips are canceled, and I am not getting a break at all.”

Lipscomb says the stay-at-home order sis challenging for the duo, describing them both as extreme extroverts, foodies and avid party-goers.

Sundays are for Sons

Lipscomb has a robust social media presence, and by graciously sharing both her struggles and successes, she successfully strikes a note of authenticity that many strive for.

Her feed can serve as a chronology of her motherhood. On Sundays, Lipscomb posts “Sundays are for Sons,” with photos and a reflection on how she spent the day dedicated to special activities with her son. Sundays are for Sons came out of Lipscomb’s need to carve out one-on-one time with Caius in her busy schedule.

“He attends community meetings with me, he just goes everywhere with me,” she said. “He is always sharing me.”

While single-parenthood affords its own challenges, Lipscomb focuses on the positive aspects of it: she alone gets to decide who is in her son’s life and what activities he engages in.

“It is important to me that my son is cultured and that he can speak the language,” Lipscomb expressed. “As a young black man, he is going to have so many trials and tribulations that come against him, just naturally. I want to make sure that he can function well in any room and that he can hold conversations. I keep him in swimming, I have exposed him to skiing. All of these non-traditional things, I want him to be well versed in. He has expressed interest in golf and interest in chess. So this summer we will be exploring both of those.”

Additionally, Lipscomb says that as a single mother, she feels an extra urgency to provide her son with everything he needs to be successful; an urgency that perhaps she wouldn’t feel in a two-parent family.

Indeed, for single moms like Lipscomb, the stay-at-home orders have made fulfilling adult interactions and muchneeded alone time nearly non-existent.

“We [single moms] can’t slack on it,” she said. “There is so much we have to do that makes us more intentional about being sure that we are honoring the things that we know will need to happen so that our children can be successful. The greatest gift any of us could ever have the is the opportunity to raise a child, understanding that parenting is for a lifetime ... I think there is a focus, passion and fire that single moms have because we are trying to compensate for all of the voids that our children may face.”

“Now, I don’t get any time to recharge my batteries until late at night when he is fast asleep,” she said. “There just isn’t much structure anymore, and I don’t have those moments to myself that I need sometimes.”

While prevailing systemic racism has created significant barriers for young black men to thrive in American, Lipscomb says that because she is so intentional, she is confident Caius will be able to navigate a successful and fulfilling life.

Lipscomb says the shutdown has revealed to her how hard she works, and in turn, how much Caius sacrifices to share her with others.

“I have no fear, because I am confident that I am raising a strong, intelligent, kind, compassionate, driven and motivated individual who is going to make a positive contribution to society. I explain to him that what you have in your head and in your heart, no one can ever take from you. As a result of that, you have to feed it ... it is very important to me that he has the education and the experience so that his options will be limitless.”

“We have always been very very close,” she said. “Right now, we have really beautiful moments and really, really good days.

And then there are moments where it is like world war three between the two of us.”

“When he is having a hard time, I will stop working to make him something to eat or get him out for some fresh air,” she said. “Normally, he is at school, and I can work all day. Being in this position helps me realize that I am a mom first, and he has to be my first priority.”

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

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Suffragists at St. Cecilia

BY JMELISSA FOX FOR THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS WOMEN’S HISTORY COUNCIL

By the 1899 National American Woman Suffrage Association convention in Grand Rapids, Susan B. Anthony had been a visitor here for over 25 years. She campaigned in Michigan during the first referendum battle for suffrage in 1874 and returned often to inspire workers at Michigan Equal Suffrage Association meetings. During Emily Burton Ketcham’s four terms as MESA president, this Grand Rapids suffrage leader had developed a lasting friendship with Anthony-- who put a political twist on Ketcham’s 25th wedding anniversary celebration in 1892! Standing in the receiving line to greet Ketcham’s 400 guests, Anthony was reported by the Grand Rapids Herald to have worn a “magnificent trained gown of dark maroon velvet” with “all the grace and polish of a reigning society queen.”

After a heated debate at its 1893 convention, National American Woman Suffrage Association delegates voted to undertake a regional strategy and hold their annual convention every other year outside of Washington, D.C. In 1899, Michigan leader Emily Burton Ketcham took advantage of the policy change and invited NAWSA to her hometown, Grand Rapids. Ketcham’s campaign likely succeeded over such cities as Cleveland and San Francisco because of her serious and long-term dedication to the movement, but also because Grand Rapids itself offered such an enticing financial package. (Read more about suffrage dynamo Ketcham online in the March issue of WLM!) The 1899 meeting in Grand Rapids made it only the third city, after Atlanta and Des Moines, to host a NAWSA convention outside of the U.S. capital. From April 27th to May 4th in 1899, national suffragists overran the city and held meetings at St. Cecilia Music Society, whose new woman-built, state-of-the-art club house and auditorium were proclaimed “the most beautiful building in which they had ever met.” Delegates were invited to stay at the conveniently located Warwick Hotel for $2.00 a day, where they could hold committee meetings before walking “along paths dappled with light” to the convention. There, they were treated to national suffrage leaders pontificating from the St. Cecilia stage.

In addition to Susan B. Anthony, they heard from the next two presidents to replace her in the twentieth century, Carrie Chapman Catt and Anna Howard Shaw.

Under the leadership of Emily Burton Ketcham during the 1890s, Grand Rapids had become a hub for state suffrage activity. Now the movement’s biggest hitters were in the city all at once; and they moved beyond the St. Cecilia auditorium to share the suffrage gospel at twelve churches across the city on April 30th: Susan B. Anthony addressed a full house at Fountain Street Baptist Church; Reverend Anna Howard Shaw, a Michigan girl, spoke at Park Congregational; and Kentucky’s Laura Clay explored the Bible’s implications about equal rights at Calvary Baptist Church. The church strategy was a wise one for NAWSA. Besides reaching large audiences in packed houses, the church settings powerfully countered perceptions of conflict between the women’s suffrage movement and religious teachings.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY LIBBY VANDERPLOEG Colored Women, Jackson put forward a resolution that when traveling “colored women ought not to be compelled to ride in smoking cars, and that suitable accommodations should be provided for them.”

She was met with passionate opposition from southern delegates, illustrating decades-long tensions between reform movements.

The convening of so many suffragists in Grand Rapids generated massive media interest, and Ketcham’s face was reportedly “wreathed with smiles” because her city’s women’s clubs and Board of Trade had supported the convention so whole-heartedly. On one excursion, carriages took delegates to visit Anna Sutherland Bissell’s factory, where she offered tours and engraved miniature souvenir carpet sweepers. The NAWSA meeting in Grand Rapids marks the only time the national movement ever met in Michigan.

Still, there was a big stir on the second-to-last day of the convention caused by Lottie Wilson Jackson of Bay City, Michigan. Representing the National Association of GGRWHC’s programming to honor the 19th Amendment centennial has been interrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. For now, please stay safe but celebrate with us virtually and in print! Visit the digital suffrage exhibit on our website (ggrwhc.org); follow our calendar electronically and in WLM; and stay tuned about August 26th: HER VOICE HER VOTE!

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Learn & Do

Decorating a Nursery

BY JESSICA CROSBY

A

new addition to the family is such a happy celebration, we at Delight In Designs just added four new grandchildren to our team with more on the way. We knew when we started our design services that one of our favorite spaces to design would be the nursery. This is an area where we can bring back childhood memories and just celebrate life. When thinking about your nursery, you’ll want to consider things that you love,the color palette and incorporating reading.

Let’s talk about themes. You can pick the latest on-trend cartoon character, but how about taking things you love and “baby” them up a bit? For instance, do you like mountain climbing? Take a focal wall and paint mountains on it. Use climbing rope to tie back the window treatment. Are you into photography? Place an oversized black and white photo of your family above the crib. As your child grows, there will be plenty of time to show off teenage mutant turtles!

As for color, again, focus on what you like! Be mindful of late-night feedings: are you OK with a bright Mickey Mouse red, or would you rather be greeted by a blush pink/ gray room? There is no right or wrong answer here.

You’re never too young for books. Reading to babies as young as six months of age leads to stronger vocabularies and better early literacy skills four years later, just as the children are getting ready to go to school. A nursery is not complete without books. You can be creative with your display; you don’t always have to put books into a bookcase. Try stacking them neatly on the dresser, or back to the mountain climber, how about binding a book with carabiners (makes for easy page turning when the time comes!)

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

When all is said and done, the magic is in the new baby, who will be welcomed with love and kisses. Adding a nursery that incorporates all of things that you already love will add to the experience!

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Learn & Do

Welcome a 4-Legged Family Member with Care Tips for a successful, lifelong pet adoption COURTESY OF FAMILY FEATURES

B

ringing home a new pet can be exciting and heartwarming. Before you get caught up in the excitement of adopting a pet, however, it’s important to do a bit of homework and have conversations to ensure you’re choosing a lifelong fit for your family.

When considering adopting, keep in mind that pets can provide as many benefits to you as you do them, such as helping to reduce stress, providing companionship, getting the daily recommended amount of physical activity and more. As you take your options into account, remember these guidelines from the experts at PetSmart Charities to prepare for a successful homecoming for your newest family member.

Life Stages If you prefer a lower energy pet, seek a senior (age 7 or above) who may move a little slower.

For higher energy, look for young puppies and kittens or active breeds such as Labradors, hounds, American terriers (commonly known as pit bulls) and mixed breeds.

For first-time pet owners, a healthy adult dog or cat can help teach new pet parents the joys of having a pet and may not require as much attention as a puppy or kitten.

Families with young children might consider a family-friendly breed or mixed breed such as a hound. Older kids may benefit from additional responsibilities such as walking the dog or cleaning the litter box.

Living Environment In addition to the type and age of pet you adopt, you’ll need to consider the space you have available to welcome your furry friend.

If you live in a home, consider fencing your yard for more relaxed playtime. If you live in an apartment, discuss any restrictions with your landlord and find out where the closest dog parks are to ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise.

so your new pet can have an ‘apartment’ within your home.

You should always have more litter boxes than you do cats; for example, if you have one cat make sure you have at least two litter boxes. Litter boxes need to be scooped daily and completely changed weekly.

Veterinary Care Most adoptions come with a free veterinary checkup within the first week. Visit the veterinarian to have your pet’s vaccine records reviewed and ensure you know the best options for food, exercise and preventative care.

You can prevent many common diseases by keeping your pet at a healthy weight, current on flea, tick and heartworm prevention, fully vaccinated and on a high-quality diet. Preventing diseases costs less money than treating them, so discuss any concerns you have with your veterinarian.

Financial Considerations Most pets come with annual veterinary bills between $200-500 and food bills between $200-400.

Adopting a pet can provide cost savings, however, as fees at shelters and adoption events are typically lower than breeders and many of these pets are already spayed or neutered.

To ensure your pet is covered in case of emergencies, consider options like pet insurance or opening a designated savings account and depositing 5% of your pay each pay period. If you take out an insurance policy as soon as you adopt your pet, he or she will not have any “pre-existing” conditions excluded from your insurance plan.

Find more tips for a successful pet adoption and locate upcoming adoption events in your community at petsmartcharities.org.

Dogs need a place to call their own where they’re contained overnight and while you’re not home until they can be safely left to roam. Get a crate

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Health & Beauty

Even when there has been an increased risk of breast cancer attributed to hormone use, the increase is virtually miniscule.

ASK THE DOCTOR:

Hormone Replacement Therapy, pt 2

BY STEVE LASATER, M.D.

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 1 OF “ASK THE DOCTOR: HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY,” FEATURED IN THE APRIL ISSUE OF WOMEN’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

DEAR KATHY, One study by Kramer et al. found that progesterone stimulated a non-malignant breast cancer cell line less than Provera® and other progestins, and concluded by saying, “Therefore, the choice of progestin may be important in terms of influencing a possible breast cancer risk.” Another study by Ghatge et al., looking at the effect of MPA (Provera®) in breast cancer cells in vitro, concluded, “Our comparison of the gene regulatory profiles of MPA and progesterone suggests that, for physiologic hormone replacement therapy, the actions of MPA do not mimic those of endogenous progesterone alone.”

In vivo evidence is another type of evidence – in living persons. In one randomized, double-blind study of women undergoing breast surgery for benign conditions, Foidart et al. found that those who applied topical progesterone to the breast for 14 days before surgery had a decrease in the stimulation of breast cells in the excised tissue. This is direct molecular biological evidence that progesterone and Provera® are different, and thus the associated cancer risks are different as well. In Europe, transdermal estradiol and progesterone are used more frequently than Premarin® and Provera®. In another study, De Lignieres et al. followed a cohort of 3,175 French women who used mostly transdermal estradiol, and progestins other than Provera®, for an average of 8.9 years; they found that there was no increased risk of breast cancer.

These studies are part of the growing evidence that the class-effect concept that considers all progestins to have exactly the same effects in all tissues is untenable. If your gynecologist or internist makes a class-effect argument when he or she tells you there is no difference between progesterone and Provera® (I often hear, “It is

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

progesterone”), show him or her these studies. (If you would like to have the actual references cited, please write to me and I will gladly forward them to you.)

HRT users have a 40% reduction in colorectal cancers.

This certainly needs to be factored into the “hormones and cancer risk” equation.

2. Even when there has been an increased risk of breast cancer attributed to hormone use, the increase is virtually miniscule. The International Menopause Society (IMS) is the largest menopause society in the world and was the lone voice of reason when the initial results from the Women’s Health Initiative Study were released in 2002 – the study which was hyped as showing an increased risk of cancer from “hormones.” Had the IMS’s incisive analysis of the data been heeded by the media, many women would have been spared the needless turmoil that cessation of HRT caused in their lives. Here is what the IMS has stated:

4. There are numerous other benefits to bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It should also be pointed out that if the bio-identical HRT consists of estradiol applied on the skin (transdermal) or under the skin (subcutaneous pellets), then most of the other adverse events associated with oral conjugated equine estrogen (Premarin®) such as blood clots, strokes, gall bladder disease, and increased triglycerides and C-reactive protein, are likely to be eliminated as well. This results in a risk-benefit equation that is quite beneficial for most women undergoing the menopausal transition as well as for continued, long-term therapy. But even oral hormone replacement has considerable benefits, as shown by a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2012, in which over 1,000 women in Denmark who had recently undergone menopause were randomized into two groups, serving either as the treatment group, who were given estradiol and a progestin, or the control group. After being followed for ten years, those women who had received the hormone replacement therapy showed a significantly reduced risk of heart failure, heart attack, and of overall mortality, without any apparent increase in the risk of blood clot, stroke, or cancer! When one also figures in the improved quality of life typically experienced by women receiving hormone replacement therapy – dramatic relief from hot flashes and night sweats, improved sexual wellbeing, and reduction in fatigue, to name just a few – the decision of whether or not to take hormone replacement therapy should for many post-menopausal women be considered a “no-brainer.”

The risk of breast cancer attributable to MHT (menopausal hormone therapy) is rare. It equates to an incidence of <1.0 per 1000 women per year of use. This is similar or lower than the increased risk associated with common factors such as sedentary lifestyle, obesity and alcohol consumption. The risk may decrease after treatment is stopped, but data are inconsistent. (from the International Menopause Society, in Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy, 20 June 2016) 3. Other cancers than breast cancer have been shown to be significantly LESS likely in women taking hormone replacement.

Colorectal Cancer is the second most common cancer in women (after breast cancer). Evidence from the Women’s Health Initiative and other trials suggests that current

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Health & Beauty

TAKING AIM Physicians for the Prevention of Gun Violence Focus on Optimizing Gun Safety

BY KATE SAGE, D.O.

I

magine an ailment that kills one hundred people a day in the U.S., harms at least twice as many more, and affects citizens of the United States far more than any other developed country. Next, imagine that doctors do not talk about that ailment with their patients and that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have been discouraged from researching this ailment for the past 24 years. It sounds like a giant conspiracy theory, right? The reality is that it’s the public health crisis of gun violence in the United States.

Dr. Sonya Lewis, MD, MPH, and a psychiatrist in Ann Arbor, MI explains: “On average, 100 people die every day from guns in the U.S., and approximately 60% of these deaths are suicides. That is why Physicians for the Prevention of Gun Violence was founded.”

Gun violence is a major cause of death in the United States, and physician groups from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the American Medical Association are offering recommendations about gun safety and mortality prevention.

“It’s a public health crisis,” Lewis said.

One of the goals of Physicians for the Prevention of Gun Violence is to help physicians speak to their patients about gun safety.

“We want to normalize the process of physicians and patients discussing guns,” Lewis expained. “It shouldn’t be any different than a physician asking about bike helmets, car seats, and smoke detectors.”

Amendment” in 1996, which banned federally funded research that would “advocate or promote gun control.”

As a result, research on gun violence essentially came to a halt.

This changed in 2019 when Congress dedicated $25 million to the CDC and NIH for research on gun violence. The funding is not political; it’s about the scientific tracking and categorizing of a deadly epidemic in the United States which is caused from the use of guns. Still, $25 million is far less than the amount of money that goes into, for example, research for motor vehicle accidents or influenza. However, the symbolism of the funding from Congress will likely inspire scientists to resume research on gun safety.

Even the NRA offers tips on gun safety, including never using drugs and/or alcohol while shooting, storing a gun so it is not accessible to unauthorized people, always keeping the gun unloaded until time to use it, wearing eye and ear protection, and making sure to make sure the gun is clean and safe to use before shooting.

Gun laws specific to Michigan

Here are some excerpts taken from the Giffords Law Center. The law center was started by Gabrielle Giffords, a congresswoman from Arizona who was shot in the head in 2012. · Michigan does require background checks when a private seller is selling to a purchaser for handguns, but not for long guns. · There are laws that require reporting to law enforcement when a handgun is purchased or if a firearm is stolen. · There is no law requiring firearms dealers to obtain a state license. · There is no law requiring a waiting period to get a gun. · There is no limit to the number of guns that can be purchased at one time. · Local governments are not allowed to regulate firearms in Michigan. · Law enforcement does not have the discretion to deny a concealed handgun license.

The organization aims to discuss gun safety without judgement.

“We’re not about confiscation, we’re about partnering with our patients to optimize gun safety,” Lewis said.

On the most basic level, the proper storage of guns, the proper handling of guns, and the proper education about guns contribute overall to gun safety both at home and in public.

Congress has also recently realized that gun violence and gun safety are more than a political issue. Since 1996, there has been no public funding to track gun violence or gun deaths, and no federal funding for gun violence prevention. The reason is because of the “Dickey

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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

Health & Beauty

How to Develop Healthy Social Media Habits

BY MICHELLE JOCKISH POLO

I

t’s late at night, and you have already brushed your teeth, washed your face, and put on a clean pair of pajamas. You are getting ready to go to bed, but you want to wind down, so you pick up your phone and open up Instagram and begin scrolling. Scrolling through the cute cat videos, your friends’ best captured life moments, and photos of stunning places around the world from strangers you probably will never meet; and all of the sudden, you look up and realize an hour has passed since you laid down, and you are probably not going to get the eight hours of sleep you thought you were going to when you first got in bed.

If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone; most of us spend several hours after our workday scrolling on Instagram and Facebook or swiping from video to video on Snapchat. While using social media is not necessarily a bad thing, it can be a negative contributing factor to stress, anxiety and depression according to Christine Mushlock, licensed social worker, clinician and outpatient therapist at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.

“It’s not about cutting out all social media, but it’s about finding a balance,” Mushlock added.

According to the Pew Research Center, finding that balance has become a priority for the majority of the 69% of the American population using social media today.

In order to find balance, Mushlocks adds that it’s important to question ones’ social media practices and behaviors. Is it to connect with others? Do I want to receive affirmation from what I post? Am I bored and want to fill up on spare time? Am I losing track of time when I am on social media? Are my friendships being affected by my use of social media? Do I have a hard time putting away my phone when I am with others, or when I am supposed to be working or sleeping?

“A lot of people use their phones before bed, and I know it can contribute to people having a hard time falling asleep and interrupting your sleep,” Mushlock added.

While Mushlock says healthy social media use will vary from person to person, its important to practice putting ones phone away during a period of one or two hours per day and noting if any anxiety or stress comes up.

“If there is significant stress that arises in a person when they put their phone away, then it’s important to examine those emotions and recognize that it might be a sign of unhealthy social media use,” Mushlock said.

Exhibiting healthy social media use involves setting limits on how one interacts with others on social media, what

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020

kind of people or accounts we follow, and setting time limits.

“Being conscious of who and what you are following and how that’s affecting you emotionally, and putting limits on notifications can be really helpful,” Mushlock explained.

Examples of some limits can involve only using social media after work, or removing social media apps from ones’ phone, or using social media only in a personal phone or computer.

It’s important to practice some self-reflection on our own social media use. Each person is going to be the most knowledgeable about their use, but it’s important to ask ourselves what our motivation is by going online, and what are we hoping happens when we go online?

“If it comes down to feeling significant anxiety or stress when we don’t have enough followers, or likes on our posts then it’s time to set some stricter limits on social media use,” she added.

“If there is significant stress that arises in a person when they put their phone away, then it’s important to examine those emotions and recognize that it might be a sign of unhealthy social media use.”

— CHRISTINE MUSHLOCK, licensed social worker, clinician and outpatient therapist at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

Michelle Jokisch Polo is a Grand Rapidian transplant from El Salvador & Ecuador. She is passionate about creating spaces where intersectionality is encouraged and marginalized voices are elevated.

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Small Business Owners!

We Are Here WITH and FOR You GROW is here and will continue to support small businesses, entrepreneurs and our community with the tools, information and resources we have available as a Women’s Business Center, as a Small Business Administration Partner and as community members here in West Michigan.

Business Resources in One Place Find an ongoing list of webinars and resources listed and linked on our website. These are tools provided by major organizations including the SBA, SBDC, IRS, Google and many more. Topics include:

• • • • •

Human Resources Managing Cash Flow Unemployment Filing Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Information How to Apply for an EIDL

GROW staff is also here to assist business owners to navigate the EIDL application process and newly released CARE stimulus package. We will help clarify your situation and do our best to identify the best options for your business.

Visit growbusiness.org/covid Email: info2@growbusiness.org to get started.

Contact us to Get Started While our office is closed we are fully staffed virtually, and ready to help!

Reach out to us online at growbusiness.org or email us directly at info2@growbusiness.org.

Stay connected

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