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Mental Health Advice from a Hallmark Movie Star/Disney Princess?!?!
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Mental Health Advice from a Hallmark Movie Star/Disney Princess?!?!
Happy New Year Women’s Leadership COP!? I hope you all were able to relax a little, spend time with family and friends, and take some time to do something for yourself over the last week!
A staple of every winter break (and who am I kidding, basically every week) for me is to watch a Hallmark movie.? I know they are almost always predicable and oftentimes cheesy, but there is something about knowing a happy ending is on its way that makes me smile and calms me down.? It’s a little consistency and happiness in an ever changing, oftentimes gloomy world.?
While watching In Merry Measure staring Patti Murin and Brendan Penny, something the lead character said stood out to me so much that I immediately texted it to my friend.? This post is my long way of sharing that quote with you because I think it a quote/question that needs sharing.
In the movie, the main character Darcy is helping her niece as she struggles with being cut from the high school music group she was auditioning for.? Darcy proceeded to ask her “do you want advice or silent support?”? She then sat with her niece in silence while her niece let out all her emotions.?
I immediately thought to myself, how often do I sit in my office with a student that is crying, awkwardly trying to make small talk because I’m not sure what they need from me.? Going forward, I am going to do my best to ask every student this, while learning to be ok with the uncomfortable silence if that is what they need.? My students know my door is always open and I hope that they will continue to come to me whether they need advice or just a safe placed to sit as they process their emotions.?
I also really loved this quote because it was said by Patti Murin.? If you don’t know Patti, she originated the role of Anna in Frozen: The Musical on Broadway and is a big supporter of mental health. ?During her time in the show, Patti called out (which pre-covid didn’t happen often) because of an anxiety attack and then she posted about it on Instagram.? I remember thinking to myself wow, she is being so open and honest about her mental health, I’ve never seen this before from a Broadway star and this is what we need to be talking about.? Here is a link to an article that talks about how her castmates and the company she worked for supported her through her anxiety attacks plus some fun tidbits on what it’s like to play the lovable Anna in Frozen! https://deadline.com/2018/04/frozen-patti-murin-broadway-anxiety-attack-missed-performance-1202374248/
All the joy,
Kait?——————————
Kaitlyn Howarth
Assistant Director of Building Operations, Hospitality Services
William Paterson University
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1 Reply
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Love this idea! Also just committing to have deeper conversations in 2023 and being present in the moment is always a great goal for the new year. Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer D. Keegin, M. Ed.
Associate Director for Campus Activities, Binghamton University
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Original Message:
Sent: 1/3/2023 12:28:00 PM
From: Kaitlyn Howarth
Subject: Mental Health Advice from a Hallmark Movie Star/Disney Princess?!?!Happy New Year Women’s Leadership COP! I hope you all were able to relax a little, spend time with family and friends, and take some time to do something for yourself over the last week!
A staple of every winter break (and who am I kidding, basically every week) for me is to watch a Hallmark movie. I know they are almost always predicable and oftentimes cheesy, but there is something about knowing a happy ending is on its way that makes me smile and calms me down. It’s a little consistency and happiness in an ever changing, oftentimes gloomy world.
While watching In Merry Measure staring Patti Murin and Brendan Penny, something the lead character said stood out to me so much that I immediately texted it to my friend. This post is my long way of sharing that quote with you because I think it a quote/question that needs sharing.
In the movie, the main character Darcy is helping her niece as she struggles with being cut from the high school music group she was auditioning for. Darcy proceeded to ask her “do you want advice or silent support?” She then sat with her niece in silence while her niece let out all her emotions.
I immediately thought to myself, how often do I sit in my office with a student that is crying, awkwardly trying to make small talk because I’m not sure what they need from me. Going forward, I am going to do my best to ask every student this, while learning to be ok with the uncomfortable silence if that is what they need. My students know my door is always open and I hope that they will continue to come to me whether they need advice or just a safe placed to sit as they process their emotions.
I also really loved this quote because it was said by Patti Murin. If you don’t know Patti, she originated the role of Anna in Frozen: The Musical on Broadway and is a big supporter of mental health. During her time in the show, Patti called out (which pre-covid didn’t happen often) because of an anxiety attack and then she posted about it on Instagram. I remember thinking to myself wow, she is being so open and honest about her mental health, I’ve never seen this before from a Broadway star and this is what we need to be talking about. Here is a link to an article that talks about how her castmates and the company she worked for supported her through her anxiety attacks plus some fun tidbits on what it’s like to play the lovable Anna in Frozen! https://deadline.com/2018/04/frozen-patti-murin-broadway-anxiety-attack-missed-performance-1202374248/
All the joy,
Kait——————————
Kaitlyn Howarth
Assistant Director of Building Operations, Hospitality Services
William Paterson University
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