Happy Wednesday, friends! If you've been watching the news or endlessly scrolling on social media, then you're probably feeling just as overwhelmed, stressed, and weary as I am. With every news report and social media post that sparks an array of feelings, I hope you are taking the time to both acknowledge your emotions and… Continue reading Wellness Wednesday: Self-Care When the News Is Difficult
Author: Kermit Says...
Hi, and welcome to Kermit Says... It’s great to meet you!
I’m Kirstin the thirty-something-year-old writer, editor, and visionary of Kermit Says! Born and raised on Chicago’s south side, I am what happens when you choose to live life colorfully, boldly, and radiantly, and this website will give you the tools and motivation to dare to be different!
As a licensed clinical child and adolescent social worker, former high school English teacher, daughter, sister, and friend, my goal is to enrich, enliven, encourage, and empower everyone I meet, and I hope these weekly posts will leave you with rays of sunshine to do just that! Let’s get started…
Motivational Monday: Be Like Mike!
Happy Motivational Monday and Memorial Day, friends! I hope you had a wonderful three-day weekend and did something that sparked joy or made your soul smile...even if it was sitting on the couch and binge-watching ESPN's docuseries The Last Dance like I did (so good, right?)! As a Chicagoan who grew up watching and rooting… Continue reading Motivational Monday: Be Like Mike!
Feature Friday: South Side Environmental Education Directive (SEED)
At the start of the quarantine, 19-year-old Iván did what so many of us did: embraced the novelty of the pandemic and binge-watched the latest Netflix shows to pass the time. Now that the novelty has worn off, Iván has worked hard to create structure, self-reflect, and find what brings him true joy. All of… Continue reading Feature Friday: South Side Environmental Education Directive (SEED)
Wellness Wednesday: Developing a Mindfulness Practice in Anxious Times
When I first heard about mindfulness a few years ago, I understood it to be a practice meant to help people relax when they felt stressed or anxious. And while that's not entirely untrue, years of schooling, working as a child and adolescent therapist, and developing my own mindfulness practice have broadened my understanding. Sure,… Continue reading Wellness Wednesday: Developing a Mindfulness Practice in Anxious Times
Motivational Monday: It’s OK Not To Be OK
Hi, friends! How are you? No, how are you really? It's been awhile, hasn't it? My last post was from March 16th when we were just three short days into quarantining. Businesses were just starting to close and schools were just beginning to prepare for what we all imagined would only be a few weeks… Continue reading Motivational Monday: It’s OK Not To Be OK
Motivational Monday: What’s Permanent? Love.
Wow! It has been 498 days since my last post, and to say things have changed feels like a bit of an understatement. Let's see. 498 days ago I was in my second year of graduate school, considering rekindling things with an old flame, and living and working in a place I love and surrounded… Continue reading Motivational Monday: What’s Permanent? Love.
Motivational Monday: Just Breathe
Last week was a pretty awful week. Zooming in on me, I had a really difficult few days at work, struggled with homework and quizzes, was unable to balance my personal and professional life (but what's new?), and found myself feeling run down and sick. I tried so hard to jump over hurdle after hurdle,… Continue reading Motivational Monday: Just Breathe
Motivational Monday: Comparison Kills
What's the first thing you do when you wake up? I know I can't be the only one who reaches for my phone and checks social media, right? In fact, I even find myself scrolling through everyone's pictures and status updates multiple times a day. "How can they afford that?" "Wow, they're living their best… Continue reading Motivational Monday: Comparison Kills
Dear Reader…
I've been spending a lot of time thinking about Kermit Says... The inception, the journey, the hurdles, and the incredible victories. Kermit Says... started nearly five years ago. The idea came after speaking to a group of then-eighth-grade students at my former elementary school, and it only grew with the help of my high school students,… Continue reading Dear Reader…
Motivational Monday: Be a Game Changer
This weekend was filled with triggering news that I’m sure brought up anxiety and all sorts of emotions. And as I shared on the Kermit Says... Facebook and Instagram pages, there is no right or wrong way to react. We are all fully-formed humans with valid feelings and experiences that have shaped our very being.… Continue reading Motivational Monday: Be a Game Changer
Kermit Says... 