BoldlyU Magazine Issue 6 | Página 5

Letter from the Editor Anxiety! When I was in Middle School, I had anxiety, but I didn’t know the word for it; how times have changed. Now that our tweens are completely deciding the issues that we talk/write about my respect for them grows dai- ly. They not only want to help other kids going through the same issues, but they also want to dig into the harder issues that they are facing on a daily basis. Anxiety really affects everyone in some way or another at every age, but I love to see and hear some of the coping skills that the kids have, and how they recog- nize their limits to certain situations. If I only had some of these skills when I was their age, my middle school years might have been different. Hopefully, by sharing other kids stories, we will be able to make your Middle School years bet- ter even if it is in a small way. When my anxiety is through the roof, I put an encour- aging message on my mirror in the bath- room like “I matter,” “I’m going to do great today,” “be positive,” “be brave.” Little things like that can change your whole outlook on the day, and when you come back in the evening you can say “I was strong today” or “I do matter,” because you really do matter! Darla H. ENJOY!