Those of us who are first-gen immigrants see roles we can relate to in Disney’s Encanto. The one who has to do everything right. The one who carries the burdens. The one who feels the pain and tells the story.
Our childhood shapes us. But so do the childhoods and lives of our parents, and their parents. The effects of trauma and adversity (and resilience!) can be passed on from generation to generation until the pattern is broken.
Read this BuzzFeed post on what first-gen Latinos are saying about Encanto, and how the trauma of previous generations is present with all of us today.
It’s that time of year again, and I am sure you have noticed how fast the Holiday season is taking over stores. For some, this can trigger the body and create stress or dread….
I’ve lived with bipolar disorder for the last 13 years. Though the initial years were brutal, once I understood my triggers and what it takes to stay well, I’ve been privileged to have stayed healthy for much of the last decade. This included — to my relief — my first pregnancy and post-partum period and serving in high-intensity public health roles through the pandemic, as California’s Acting Surgeon General and previously the office’s first Chief Health Officer.
I love music. Recently, I was listening to a random playlist Spotify generated for me when a song titled “Before I Have A Daughter” by Bre Kennedy started playing. Bre Kennedy sings about building a garden that grows on the same ground where tears have fallen and hearts have also been broken. Her goal is to learn to tend to this garden so that it flourishes on both the good and bad days.
Support systems are essential all year round, especially during the holidays if you are experiencing triggers, sadness, grief, anger, etc.
