Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: Everyday Mental Wellness: Simple Steps to Boost Resilience and Joy

Article by Dana Brown.
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Everyday Mental Wellness: Simple Steps to Boost Resilience and Joy

Busy parents, overloaded caregivers, and remote workers spending long stretches alone often keep functioning while feeling frayed at the edges. The core tension is simple: stress management becomes another task, while sensory overstimulation and social isolation quietly drain patience, focus, and warmth. Everyday mental wellness doesn’t require a personality overhaul or perfect routines; it asks for supports that fit real days and real nervous systems. With the right mix of small inputs, emotional resilience becomes more available in ordinary moments.

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: Grief and Aikido: Relaxing Under Pressure

I’ve discussed the connection of martial arts to mental and emotional health for over a decade; in fact, that’s the reason why I started this blog. I have never, however, approached the topic of using martial arts to manage grief until grief counselor and Aikido student Gyani Richards suggested the topic. The suggestion was timely. I lost my two remaining grandparents within a day of each other earlier this year, which was already a very stressful time for a number of reasons. At first I wasn’t quite sure how to handle my grief. Practicing taekwondo and being among my martial arts friends was one of the best things I did to regain a sense of normalcy and positivity. Please enjoy this beautifully written and thoughtful post and information about Gyani at the end.

If you would like to submit a guest post for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.

Grief and Aikido: Relaxing Under Pressure

“Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.”
— Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido

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