Start Strong Bronx

Why am I in a Bad Mood?

2011-04-20T06:21:00.000-07:00

We talked a lot about feeling happy, but you should know it's okay to feel badly about yourself.

Do you ever find yourself getting really irritable for almost no reason? Or suddenly feeling down without knowing why? Going from sadness to anger to joy in a matter of minutes can make many teens feel as though they're losing their grip. But why is the feeling of being on an emotional roller coaster so common among teens?

Dealing with constant change and pressure is part of the answer. Maybe you're starting a new school and not able to see old friends as much. Getting good grades or wanting to be better in sports or other activities can be a concern for many teens. It might feel as though there just isn't enough time to do everything.

Being a teen means struggling with identity and self-image. Being accepted by friends feels extremely important. Teens also may notice, for the first time, a sense of distance from parents and family. You may feel you want to be on your own and make your own decisions, but it can also seem overwhelming and even a bit lonely at times. As fun and exciting as this time is, it also can be a time of confusion and conflict. It can take a while for teens — and their families — to feel comfortable with the transition between childhood and adulthood.

Another important cause for mood swings is biology. When puberty begins, the body starts producing sex hormones. These hormones — estrogen and progesterone in girls and testosterone in guys — cause physical changes in the body. But in some people, they also seem to cause emotional changes — the ups and downs that sometimes feel out of control.

Understanding that almost everyone goes through mood swings during their teen years might make them easier to handle.

April Happiness

2011-04-06T02:33:00.001-07:00

Hey Start Strong Bronx Community, this month we will be blogging about Happiness as it is an important building block to having a healthy relationship.

Here are some quotes about happiness for you to think about:

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. ~Benjamin Franklin

Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it. ~Jacques Prévert

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. ~Mark Twain

If only we'd stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time. ~Edith Wharton

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. ~A.A. Milne

Happiness and sadness run parallel to each other. When one takes a rest, the other one tends to take up the slack. ~Hazelmarie Elliott (“Mattie”)

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. ~Frederick Keonig

Happy last day of March!

2011-03-31T11:43:00.001-07:00

Spring has arrived! That's the good news. The bad news here in NYC is that it's still pretty cold. :( Despite the weather not bieng too great, we are still happy, and decided to share with you one of the things we do when we need a little pick me up in the office. (Not to mention, March IS Women's History Month, and we think she's pretty cool).
Take 5 minutes off your busy schedule, and sing and dance with us!

Emotional Support

2011-03-02T06:09:00.001-08:00

Emotional support is a powerful stress buster. It can come from family, friends, partners, health professionals, teachers and more. Some may not seek emotional support because they feel it is a sign of weakness. IT IS NOT WEAK! IT SHOWS HOW STRONG YOU ARE!

There are different ways to lend emotional support, and for many different circumstances. People might need support anywhere from after a death or divorce to even after just having a bad day. Different ways of providing it are helping out by listening, saying things to make one feel better and offering encouragement, hope and optimism.

Emotional support in a relationship is critical to success. It involves accepting your partner’s differences and being there fore someone in whatever capacity you know how.

If you are unsure of how to offer emotional support, here are some suggestions. Remember to only do what you feel comfortable with.

1. Touch- most people are touch-starved. You can hold hands, walk arm in arm and cuddle.
2. Be respectful of your partner's feelings. Let them know that you are available to talk. Also, letting your partner have space sometimes can be important too.
3. Give small gifts - just because. They do not need to cost anything, but even making a card to let someone know they are special is key.
4. Compliment your partner in front of others. This is one of the most supportive things you can do.
5. Disagree with your partner in a kind and loving way. Never judge or reject you’re their ideas or desires. If you have a difference of opinion, that's fine, as long as you express it with kindness.
6. Say "I love you." Actually hearing it is important.
7. Never ignore your loved one's presence. There is nothing more hurtful than being treated like you don't exist.
8. Listen. Knowing that you are being heard is very nurturing. It is also the best way to heal old wounds and prevent misunderstandings. Paraphrasing what your partner has said is a great way to let him or her know you are tuned in.
9. Speak in a loving tone and remember to smile.
10. If your partner is having a rough time help out and remember it always feels better having someone by your side when things are rocky.

Happy March!

2011-03-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

Wow... March already!
We're super busy on this end, and getting ready for lots of events in the next few months: Denim Day in April, Diva Spa inMay, and the graduations/proms of our Senior TAB members and 8th graders in June!
In the meantime, we are celebrating March. Women's Month.
A few other days celebrated in March are:
Share a Smile Day - March 1st
Dr. Seuss's Birthday - March 2nd
St. Patrick's Day - March 17th
First day of Spring - March 20th
National Goof off Day - March 22nd
International Waffle Day - March 25
Make your own Holiday Day will be celebrated on March 26.
What will you be celebrating? Do you have any other special days in March?

Join us on Saturday, 2/12 @ the Bronx Museum!

2011-02-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, we will be at the Bronx Museum at 165th and the Grand Concourse for the Family Affair. Stop by (we'll be near the entrance, can't miss us), and make a Valentine's Day card for someone you love!
Email us at startstrongbronx@gmail.com for more information.

Communicating with yourself…

2011-01-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

Do you want to get to know yourself better?

Did you know that day dreaming, thinking, imagining and problem solving are ways that you communicate with yourself?

Some people enjoy keeping a diary. In fact one teen I work with was having a bad day and said “I can’t wait to go home and ‘journal’”. By writing down and reading back your thoughts, it could help you to understand your feelings better. You can also look back at what you wrote to better understand how certain situations made you feel.

You're Telling a Story Without Saying a Word

2011-01-12T11:25:00.000-08:00

Did you know that there are many different communication styles out there?

Non-verbal communication involves things that might seem minor, such as making eye contact and looking at the person who's speaking.

Paying attention to someone else's non-verbal communication can also give you clues as to whether the person understands what you're saying. Using good non-verbal communication shows you respect the other person enough to listen to what they are saying.

All non-verbal actions are equally important! How would you feel if someone was sending a text message , or rolling their eyes, or frowning while you talked to them? Would you think that person was trying to send you a message? Even if the person carried on a perfectly normal conversation otherwise, the communication would probably be worse than if he or she used appropriate non-verbal communication.

New Year, New Us!!!!

2011-01-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

This year, we’re going to be doing something a little different with the website. At SSB (Start Strong Bronx – remember that!), we follow the building blocks for healthy relationships: communication, support, trust/honesty, mutual respect, equality, safety and happiness.

Each month we will be exploring a new building block and the month of January is all about COMMUNICATION.

Communication is the foundation for all types of relationships. Without good communication you can get confused, offended or take something the wrong way. The best way to know what somebody is thinking is to ask. Mind-reading rarely ever works!
Do you have a healthy relationship? Answer these questions:

Are you able to speak freely and share your most personal thoughts and feelings with your partner? Do you feel safe to let your partner know when something is bothering you? How do you communicate your feelings to your partner? What does your body language say? Are you aware of how you come across to other people?

What do you think of this video?

2011-01-05T16:36:00.000-08:00

Teen Advisory Board members will be taking OVER!!!

2010-11-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

We're really excited to be adding some new energy to the SSB Blog!!! Starting this week, our blog will be updated on a regular basis by some of our Teen Advisory Board (TAB for short) members!!!
Look out for posts from them about dating, relating, having fun, being a teen and more!!
First up... Bianca O.

(No pressure, Bianca... LOL!)

Videos about Start Strong Bronx...

2010-11-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

Are on our Youtube page!!!!
Check us out at: www.youtube.com/user/starstrongbronx

Do you have videos about healthy relationships we shoudl be aware of? Let us know!

Bronx Middle Schools ROCK!!!

2010-11-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hey Middle School Students!

You guts are all amazing, and we hope to meet you soon... How are you enjoying the 4th R curriculum so far? What have you learned about relationships? tell us... We want to know!

Happy October from Start Strong Bronx!!!

2010-10-04T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hi LGJ, (and all Bronx middle school students!)

How are you guys? Did you enjoy seeing Texting 4 Life? It's really cool, right?

Did you know that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month?

We here at Start Strong take your safety seriously. We want you to live and love strong, to be empowered and to have awesome relationships!

Tell us: what was YOUR favorite part of Texting 4 Life?