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Hi everyone,
Yes, you are receiving our May newsletter in June. Why? Because May won. I have never been busier and decided to offer myself compassion by allowing myself to get this out to you later than planned.
May was chock full of delightful activities and difficult transitions. What I experienced most this month was nostalgia. Earlier in the year, I learned that my elementary school was closing, so I attended the closing ceremony a couple of weeks ago. It took me for a ride. Walking through the halls where I spent eight years was something else, and I was overcome with emotion. A lot of what I experienced in childhood has become a blur, but I remember feeling so safe within those walls, while simultaneously feeling alone, sad, and confused.
Memory is compex, as is our mind-body relationship. Within moments of being on campus, I felt small and unsure. Our mind and body belong to one system, each influencing the other. While peeking into classrooms and climbing the stairs in the auditorium, I had many physical sensations, reminding me of all the parts at work within me, and how much I am not privy to.
This month’s article is on somatic symptoms and strives to shed light on what we consider psychosomatic while destigmatizing the symptoms and experiences. If this is something you have been curious about, I hope it can help you make greater sense of it.
If you know that you need support with this or with anything else, I hope you reach out. Our email address is info@takeroottherapy.com, and you can reach us by phone or text at (323) 388-5578.
Warmly,
Saba Harouni Lurie (she/her/hers)
On The Blog
Is It All In My Head?: Recognizing the Mind-Body Relationship and Destigmatizing Psychosomatic Symptoms
In my immigrant home growing up, there wasn’t a lot of room for challenging emotions. If I was feeling overwhelmed, scared, sad, or (gasp!) angry, I was encouraged to disregard how I was feeling and to just keep going. My parents had many concerns, including financial matters and familial issues. My emotional state was not necessarily where my parents would focus their energy, and emotional support wasn’t a part of the landscape.
When I was sick, though, I was allowed to stay home. Sometimes, my mother would check my forehead to see if I had a temperature, a gesture I found comforting and tender from a mother who wasn’t often maternal. So frequently, during periods of stress and overwhelm, I would come down with a sore throat…
How to Help
Project Save Our Surf Beach Clean Up
Come join Project Save Our Surf for a fun afternoon of music and refreshments cleaning the beach. Buckets and gloves will also be provided for the cleanup. Connect with others in Los Angeles working to support our environment.
Supported by Beryl Foundation please support our campaign to continue our efforts down the coastline: Fundraiser
OR you can donate by choosing a donation ticket and choosing an amount.
They have also partnered with Project Pop Drop to collect items for the homeless that they will be delivering to a homeless shelter on the last Saturday of the month (each month is a different shelter and details will be available at the cleanup for those who want to attend that event as well). They are collecting non- perishable foods and new toiletries, new socks, new underwear, new clothing etc.
WHEN:
Saturday, June 8th
11:00AM – 1:00PM
WHERE:
Santa Monica Beach Tower 26
2559 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Community Events
Being Alive: Pride and Progress
Join us for a special Pride celebration at our ceramic studio on Saturday, June 15th! This event honors the incredible work of the Being Alive organization in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community and ending HIV through wellness, education, and support. Lunch and light refreshments will be served!
Event Highlights:
— Creative Ceramic Activities: Engage in fun and artistic ceramic projects and meet the artisans who sculpt beautiful original objects with our kiln.
— Community and Conversations: Learn about the mission of the Being Alive organization, their efforts in harm reduction, and discover how you can contribute to their cause.
WHEN:
Saturday, June 15th
12:00PM – 2:30PM
WHERE:
7976 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Juneteenth Celebration
Join us as we celebrate Juneteenth with a full day of wellness and family activities!
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Self Care: Yoga
Move through a sixty-minute flow with yoga and meditation teacher Constance Hartwell. No previous experience is necessary, but please bring your own yoga mat. Outdoors weather permitting.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Sound Bath
Experience the healing possibilities of sound with Sol & Sound as they offer a group meditation and sound bath. Please bring your own yoga mat. All ages. Outdoors weather permitting.
1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Tochi Tales Juneteenth Storytelling
Tochi is Swahili for “flashlight,” and storytellers Jayon and Jon Kev will brighten your day with lively stories about the holiday. Participants are encouraged to bring something comfortable to sit on.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Zine Workshop
Make a zine that honors and celebrates Juneteenth with educators from Able ARTS Work, a nonprofit offering opportunities in the creative arts for people of all abilities.
WHEN:
Saturday, June 15th
10:30AM – 3:00PM
WHERE:
California African American Museum
600 State Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037
Environmentalist Book Club
Are you passionate about the environment? Do you love to read? Do you want to engage in meaningful discussions about pressing environmental issues with likeminded folks? Look no further! The Central Group and West LA Group of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter are thrilled to announce the launch of its Environmentalist Book Club!
Every month, we will discuss a book that revolves around nature, the environment, or environmentalism. We will read capaciously, and will discuss books old and new, fiction and nonfiction, sobering and hopeful.
Bring your enthusiasm, questions, and a passion for the environment.
WHEN:
Tuesday, June 11th
7:00PM – 8:00PM
WHERE:
Village Well Books & Coffee
9900 Culver Boulevard #1b
Culver City, CA 90232
Featured Publications
The No. 1 Sign Of High-Functioning Depression People Often Miss
featuring Saba Harouni Lurie
25 Things Toxic Moms Might Say, According To Experts
featuring Saba Harouni Lurie
