What do Music, Staff, Pop Rocks candy, Farming, Family, and Legos all have in common?
I’ll get back to that riddle in a moment.
Last week, I received an email from Crystal Askvig, one of the remarkable therapists at our Bismarck Campus. Crystal has a Master of Science degree and is licensed as an Addiction Counselor and Professional Clinical Counselor. She’s really good. After spending her early career working with adults, she came to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in April 2021 and has been a rockstar with the kids. She meets them where they are at, while helping them find their way to who they want to be.
The email from Crystal said, “Hi Joy! The tradition continues at Western Plains [the name of our Bismarck campus]. The kids created their gratitude tree last week. This is one of our favorite group therapy activities.”
The picture attached to the email is of a large, probably 5-foot plus, brown construction paper tree, with a really cute little owl peeking out of a knot hole in the front. Above the tree is a banner that reads “We Are Thankful For…” The branches have hand prints with writing on them. The writing was too small to read in the picture, so I asked Crystal what they said.
She replied, “The things they were thankful for ranged from family, Legos, Pop Rocks candy, farming, staff, and music. 😊“
These kids have endured so much and have so little. Yet, they can see good things in their lives. Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, said. “Gratitude is an antidote to negative emotions, a neutralizer of envy, hostility, worry, and irritation. It is savoring; it is not taking things for granted; it is present-oriented.”
It’s also a really good first step toward healing. Good on Crystal and the kids!
Please keep our kids and staff in your prayers.
In His love,
Joy Ryan, President/CEO
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch
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