At this point I've got about a month left of grad school, and can't help but have a million questions. What next? For the last couple years I have always known that this part of my life is a stepping stone and not the final destination. Still, it was easy to get settled in. Now looking back, I cannot believe the time has passed, and how much I have grown both personally and professionally. At the same time, closing this chapter comes with the newfound understanding that there are so many experiences in my life at large, that are still untouched. When I get nervous about the future I try to replace it with excitement. I'm excited to see what new paths I will travel and where my career will take me. I am ready for the new and the unexplored. Here's to the future! -Cheryl Cherian

"We are the recipients of a spiritual survival kit that includes everything we require. Whatever the threat or complication, we have what we need to cope. It's not miles away on a distant shelf, or in a pharmacy; it is already within us, just waiting to be opened and put to use. I know that we often don't feel equipped. We look at the challenges in our life and think we are empty-handed. But we are not... We travel through life with the survival kit of God's grace." -Gracia Burnham

To Write Love on Her Arms has written beautifully on the topics of mental health and suicide in the the wake of two amazing minds taking their lives: https://twloha.com/blog/on-kate-spade-and-anthony-bourdain-vulnerable-people-do-not-always-look-vulnerable/

When I close my eyes and visualize my peaceful place, it looks something like this 🌿

Silence is much appreciated because as counselors, we talk to people all day. A mix of talking to clients and hearing them out. If you think about it, how much silence do we really get in our lives? And how important is silence? Without silence, when do we process our thoughts? It's the calm and quiet that everyone needs. Silence is powerful though, because it can be good or bad. For some, being alone with their thoughts is scary. The silence may be terrifying. For others, it is freeing to be able to explore their thoughts in peace without the noise of the world. If we wish to be present in our day-to-day conversations with clients, family, and friends, we should be doing more listening and less thinking as they speak. If that's the case, we surely need our time to unpack our thoughts in silence. For those who are scared to be alone with their thoughts, we encourage them to challenge their negative, irrational, and self-destructive thoughts. Without silence though, we woul