Wellbeing Wednesday

It’s the midway point in the first week of classes. Yesterday we had what our hilarious NC weather meme calls False Fall (cool temps – low 70s and overcast) and today we are back up in the mid 80s (or Second Summer on the chart). Smart Deacs will check their weather app of choice before venturing out of their residence halls, and/or dress in layers, because we can swing from chilly to hot in the same day.

Couple of mentions on wellbeing today. Many of our upperclass Deac families have heard us talk about Thrive, which is our focus on the 8 dimensions of wellbeing – emotional, social, occupational, financial, environmental, physical, spiritual, and intellectual. This year marks the 5th anniversary of Thrive, and there will be an “Arrive and Thrive” event for the campus on Wednesday, September 4th from 4-6 pm on Manchester Plaza (aka Mag Quad).

This is always such a fun event – tons of free food, giveaways, PUPPIES, a photo booth, dunk tank, caricature artists, and more. Our various campus partners whose offices support wellbeing will have tables with fun and thought-provoking activities designed to inform and inspire the campus community about how to lead healthier, more balanced lives. Urge your Deacs to join us.

Let me say it again: PUPPIES. One of the toughest things for students at the start of the year is missing their pets. They can Facetime or Skype you, but the family dog or cat just doesn’t quite translate in the same ways, so students flock to the puppies.

I’m trying to do a better job promoting wellbeing via the Daily Deac. So I am going to try sharing a few motivational images from time to time. These have to do with beginnings, and transitions, and the images we have in our heads of what things “should” be.

Finally, I am thinking of any and all Deac families who might be impacted by Hurricane Dorian. May you and yours all be safe and well.

— by Betsy Chapman ’92, MA ’94