My Top 5 ✨Mental Health✨ Favorites

For the moment, at least.

Megan Thee Stallion’s New Mental Health Website
It’s called Bad Bitches Have Bad Days, Too, and I’m obsessed. Chock-full of mental health resources, places to find therapy, and podcast recommendations, this site ONLY shares useful information. When people need a one stop shop for resources in the future, I’ll be sending them here. Check it out: www.badbitcheshavebaddaystoo.com

Old Enough!
I recently discovered this gripping reality show on Netflix, but it turns out Old Enough! has been airing in Japan since 1991, making it slightly younger than me. Each episode follows little kids as they complete their very first errand by themselves. This usually means going to the store and picking something up for their parents. A stand-out episode for me starred a little boy whose task was to make juice for his mom and grandparents who’d been working in the hot sun all day. Spoiler alert (I’m serious, major spoiler ahead): he gets home and plays with a neighborhood dog for an hour before making about two tablespoons of juice, enough to give each parched adult about one mouthful.

Old Enough!’s episodes are shorter than most YouTube videos, clocking in around twelve minutes. It’s wild to see how much safer Japan is compared to the United States, where my mom still asks me to text her when I get home from the store so she knows I wasn’t kidnapped. All of the adults on Old Enough! are so supportive and proud. The whole thing is super heart-warming and I’ll be watching all twenty episodes. Watch with me here.

This Frickin’ Gum
If you’re the Violet Beauregarde of your friend group, you might want to give this stuff a taste. I can’t get enough. I’m at least three pieces a day, and I don’t see myself slowing down anytime soon. Each piece starts out super flavorful (I like fruity flavors but they make more traditional minty ones, too), then after a few minutes of chewing, evolves to the perfect amount of rubbery. We’re talkin’ crisp, snappy bites, my bbs. Very satisfying. Yes, these lil cubes lose flavor after a while, but they never taste bad. If I sat next to you in class, I’d pass you a piece right this very moment. Here’s a link if you want some for yourself.

Watching People Paint
Something about the colors, the precision, and the heckin’ TALENT of these videos calms my baby brain so hard. Below is one of my favorite artists, but I also love
iamawonder and Mira Byler. Also, if you like ASMR, you might be a fan of albinwhisperland. UGH, just thinking about this kind of video makes me relaxed and inspired to make art. Thank you, internet!

THIS SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please listen and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found Jax on TikTok singing with the the kid from Ned’s Declassified, and her song-writing keeps getting better and better. “Victoria’s Secret” replays in my head constantly; the lyrics are perfectly simple and catchy and powerful.

What’s helping your mental health lately?

Lots of Love,
Christina