the best Mario poem on the internet

#NationalPoetryMonth #MarioMonday! Here's the best #Mario #poem I spotted online; Rader would have found it hilarious.

M - Man
A - A man
R - Really fast
I - I am not him
O - Oh man

Poet: Koopaslaya at #themushroomkingdom. Photo from Rader's 9th birthday. #acrostic #poetry pic.twitter.com/oTGyyvxl3Q

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) April 8, 2019

happy geologists day!

‪Happy #GeologistsDay! We love rocks. This gorgeous slab of #petrifiedwood came from a shop near #petrifiedforestnationalpark, one of the highlights of our recent #grandcanyon trip. Rader would've enjoyed picking out a souvenir at the shop for his rock collection. ‬

14 Likes, 0 Comments - @raderwardfoundation on Instagram: "‪Happy #GeologistsDay! We love rocks. This gorgeous slab of #petrifiedwood came from a shop near..."

check-in chart helps students

Not practical for every classroom, but I'm on board with aids to attune teachers to students' #mentalhealth. Things we didn't know were happening at school (changes in work habits) might've clued us in earlier that Rader needed help. https://t.co/fWaCnWNRLp via @boredpanda

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) April 6, 2019

new poems daily for national poetry month

For #NationalPoetryMonth I'm writing a #poem a day with prompts from @writersdigest and posting to the foundation blog. Here's my 'worst/best case' #haiku.

Worst? Already was.
And the best that still could be?
Won't have you in it. #aprpad #griefpoems https://t.co/lCRizMLxky

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) April 4, 2019

students may use gaming to cope with depression

“Rather than worrying about whether or not your kids are addicted to gaming, psychologists suggest figuring out whether they use videogames to cope with depression, anxiety or stress. A 2017 study found that adolescents who played videogames four or more hours a day for six or seven days a week showed more depressive symptoms than those who played less often.”

When the #videogame turns off, your child’s brain recoils. WSJ Family & Tech columnist Julie Jargon explains adolescents may be using gaming to cope with depression or anxiety. #mentalhealth https://t.co/ObXpi4mZbP via @WSJ

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) April 3, 2019

remembering my old favorite poetry books

April is #NationalPoetryMonth, and today is Int'l #ChildrensBookDay! Three favorite poetry books of my childhood: #ShelSilverstein's #WhereTheSidewalkEnds, Jack Hanrahan & Phil Hahn's Beastly Rhymes, and #JohnCiardi's You read to me, I'll read to you illustrated by #EdwardGorey. pic.twitter.com/w6i66A3Xtg

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) April 2, 2019

Mario Monday: for the cubers

Mario Monday! Click here to see photos of the other sides of the cube on our Instagram account.

#MarioMonday! With Rader's love for #Mario and #RubiksCubes, of course he had a #SuperMario cube! * ❤️ 💙 💛 #rubikscube #rubiks #rubik #cubing #nintendo #ninstagram #starman #star #mariostar #invincibility #luigi #supermushroom #redmushroom #mushroom #donkeykong #DK #fireflower #supermariobros #silk #silkpainting #silkdyeing

29 Likes, 0 Comments - @raderwardfoundation on Instagram: "#MarioMonday! With Rader's love for #Mario and #RubiksCubes, of course he had a #SuperMario cube! *..."

finding hope in blackout poetry

I found this beautiful poem from the Instagram account Make Blackout Poetry reposted by NAMI. Tomorrow begins National Poetry Month, and I’m so excited about it! I’m going to follow the #aprpad #poemaday writing prompts from Writer's Digest. Also, The Academy of American Poets has other great suggestions for ways to observe the month (hint: if you’re not up for writing a poem a day, you could just read one instead!). In the meantime, as NAMI said in their post, “Trust the process and keep going. 💙”

Here’s an article about the Make Blackout Poetry project, its founder, and the community of hope it has built.

So @NAMICommunicate posted this #blackoutpoetry. April is #nationalpoetrymonth and I'm so excited to write a #poemaday with prompts from @WritersDigest! Also @POETSorg has suggestions for other ways to observe. Don't want to write? Read a poem a day! #writemywayout #mentalhealth pic.twitter.com/2po7z6aqTa

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) March 31, 2019

it's not about the butterfly

Thanks to Megan Devine for seeing and speaking the truth.

Posted @withrepost * @refugeingrief The butterfly: such a common symbol of transformation. All wiggly dark parts, all mysterious and hidden, erupting from its safe cocoon into the bright, winged world. What was closed, dark, and probably painful is now so very beautiful! * * Hogwash. It's an insect. A gorgeous one, yes. A useful one, yes. But a guiding metaphor for grief? No. * * Here's why it doesn't work: ---There's that subtle implication that who you were Before grief happened in your life was somehow "less than" who you are now, or who you might become. * * ---Even well-meaning encouragement to "become the butterfly!" has its subtext: please become the butterfly already, because this whole cocoon thing has gone on too long. * * ---You can't rush the cocoon. That cocoon is there for a reason. The changing heart, the changing life - they not only deserve a protected space, that protected space is REQUIRED for whatever is to come. * * ---Transformation is not the goal of grief. It may SEEM like the goal if you're on the outside looking in. But the reality is, transformation is not required. Not everyone comes through their grief "even better than before." * * Some people DO transform. And plenty of people are not improved by grief. Some people die in their grief, or become smaller and harder in their grief. * * I would guess that the vast majority of people don't fall squarely into either camp: they are neither transformed nor destroyed. They simply continue to be who they are, carrying their love with them, into whatever new world comes next. * * The truth is, you can't force a metaphor on anyone. A symbol is only a symbol if you choose it yourself; if it resonates and speaks to you. No one can decide for another what has true, deep meaning for them. * * #GriefSupport, true support, allows the person in pain to find their own way, in their own time, with respect for who they are, who they have been, and who they are as they become. * * That's the transformation. That's the gift you can give someone in pain. * * How about you? Does the image of the #butterfly work for you? What other images have you been given in your #grief? * #megandevine #griefandloss

0 Likes, 0 Comments - @raderwardfoundation on Instagram: "Posted @withrepost * @refugeingrief The butterfly: such a common symbol of transformation. All..."

smooth mcgroove always delivers

So: not Mario Monday, but sometimes you just need some extra Mario.

I needed this video today. Love @SmoothMcGroove's #music, expressions, and especially his #cat, Charles. #MarioKart64 #videogamemusic #frappesnowland #Mario #MarioMusic https://t.co/WV0cTxo4H1

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) March 29, 2019

yes, national something on a stick day!

Happy Nat’l #SomethingOnAStickDay! Chocolate-covered marshmallows from #Kilwins were some of Rader’s favorite treats. These came from #yeahTHATgreenville Kilwins, and now are off in a #carepackage (spoiler alert!) to our college kiddo. ✨🍡🍭✨ https://t.co/fcTspKmkEv pic.twitter.com/3WmshCmVAx

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) March 28, 2019

why you should stop saying "committed suicide"

If you haven't suffered a #suicide loss, you may not be aware of this shift in terminology. #wordsmatter #mentalhealth #fightstigma #endstigma https://t.co/Y4LYQ8M1Nr

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) March 27, 2019

LGBTQ youth at much higher risk for suicide

Do you know the alarming statistics about #suicide in the LGBTQ community? Facts from the @TrevorProject, resources from @afspnational. #suicideprevention #itgetsbetter #pleasestay @800273TALK @CrisisTextLine @TransLifeline @sageusa https://t.co/CcWS4k6C7W pic.twitter.com/qf5WqC9eiK

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) March 26, 2019

Mario Monday: amazing Super Mario World 3D model

#MarioMonday! Check out this amazing model of #SuperMarioWorld created and explained by @mattbrailsford. Visit his Twitter for detailed photos and up-close views. #Nintendo #creativity #Mario #wowjustwow https://t.co/rB6DusqglB

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) March 25, 2019

More pics of the different areas of the map. It's all a mix of foam modeling, laser cutting, 3D printing and general model making. pic.twitter.com/TQkslnM4sR

— Matt Brailsford (@mattbrailsford) March 21, 2019

how to talk with someone thinking of suicide

If you're concerned someone you know is thinking about #suicide, here's advice on how to talk with them. #suicideprevention #seizetheawkward #bethe1to https://t.co/xDIYrv4wvL via @afspnational

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) March 24, 2019

happiness week: toxic positivity?

It's Saturday, and we're wrapping up United Nations Happiness Week and Introverts Week. So many of you responded to the Positively Present introvert illustration I posted on Thursday, I thought today would be the perfect time to share this interesting article, “On Toxic Positivity,” in which the illustrator/blogger behind Positively Present (Dani DiPirro) explores the differences between positivity and happiness. Definitely some things to think about! And if you want to read more, here’s another article she’s written, “Happiness vs. Positivity: What’s the Difference?”

Book review: "Little Panic" by Amanda Stern

Book review: @amandastern's "Little Panic" is a travelogue to the world of #anxiety, and I recommend you read it. #LittlePanic #mentalhealth #bookreview #bookrecommendations #readthisbook https://t.co/wzNY4uUSIi

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) March 22, 2019

introverts unite, separately, in your own homes :)

It’s #nationalintrovertsweek, and I love this illustration from @positivepresent (Dani DiPirro). She’s all about #positivity, #awareness, and #selflove. Who couldn’t use a little more of all that?
•
❤️
💙
💛#introvert #mentalhealth #knowyourself pic.twitter.com/buVKa4BGkp

— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) March 21, 2019

internat'l day of happiness:✨sparkle more✨

Today is the @unitednations International Day of Happiness! Honestly, I have mixed feelings about it. It's hard to figure out what exactly 'living happy' means when you're grieving. This cheery image adorns a cute bag I got in a care package from my friend Mia. Friends like that, who care about how you're really doing, are essential to a happy life, I think. I'm grateful for them! The UN says happiness is a fundamental human right. Make choices to do what makes you happy today, and spread your happiness around if you can. * ❤️ 💙 💛 #internationaldayofhappiness #happinessday #happiness #happylife #happy #friends #bestfriends #share #practicegratitude #givemore #give #sparklemore #sparkle #littlethings #roadtrips #livehappy #carepackage #mentalhealth