It shows up anyway
through open windows,
through sleeves rolled up without thinking,
through the quiet decision
to try again tomorrow.

The trees don’t rush it.
They don’t explain themselves
for standing bare all winter.
They trust green to arrive
when it’s ready.

I start doing the same.
Wearing the shoes I kept saving.
Raising my hand once.
Letting unfinished things
stay unfinished.

Some days I still feel small.
Some days I doubt myself.
But the light keeps finding me
on the walk home,
soft and steady.

Spring doesn’t ask me to be new.
Only present.
Only open.
Only brave enough
to grow in my own time.

The post Spring Is Not a Makeover appeared first on GirlSpring.

I am a woman

but I have a voice.

I am a woman

but my tears don’t like to fall.

I am a woman

but my opinions are stronger than steel.

I am a woman

but I can run as fast as a cheetah.

I am a woman

but sometimes my grades are lower
than the titanic.

I am a women

but my face is spotted, with big, red, painful dots all over.

I’m a woman.

I am loud.

I am a woman.

I’m not emotional.

I am a woman.

I don’t hold back.

I am a woman.

I’m athletic.

I am a woman.

I’m not smart.

I am a woman.

I’m not beautiful.

I am a woman.

The post I am a Woman appeared first on GirlSpring.

GirlSpring’s Affirmation Wednesday is a weekly series that shares uplifting affirmations written by teen girls, for teen girls. These affirmations were created by girls who participated in the Girls at the Center Program, which was supported by a grant from the Women’s Foundation of Alabama in 2022 and 2024. Each Wednesday, a new affirmation is posted to help others feel seen, encouraged, and motivated to take on the week with confidence.

What makes it special is that the affirmations come straight from real girls who’ve been through it—sharing honest, heartfelt words that inspire others to keep going. It’s all about building a positive space where girls support each other, one powerful affirmation at a time

1. I am loved by many people. 
2. You try your best. 
3. You are caring, and others care for you. 
4. Your body is beautiful. 
5. If you fall, get back up! 
6. You are strong. 
7. You are courageous. 
8. You are gifted. 
9. You have talents; use them!
10. You are perfectly imperfect. 
11. You are special. 
12. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. 
13. I am a likeable person with friends and family who are glad I am here. 

The post Girlspring Affirmation Wednesday appeared first on GirlSpring.

GirlSpring’s Affirmation Wednesday is a weekly series that shares uplifting affirmations written by teen girls, for teen girls. These affirmations were created by girls who participated in the Girls at the Center Program, which was supported by a grant from the Women’s Foundation of Alabama in 2022 and 2024. Each Wednesday, a new affirmation is posted to help others feel seen, encouraged, and motivated to take on the week with confidence.

What makes it special is that the affirmations come straight from real girls who’ve been through it, sharing honest, heartfelt words that inspire others to keep going. It’s all about building a positive space where girls support each other, one powerful affirmation at a time

1. Be the best version of you.
2. You can do hard things. 
3. Listen to your heart. 
4. I am the head and not the tail. I’m above and not beneath. I’m the lender and not the borrower. 
5. I will treat myself with the same kindness I show others. 
6. Be yourself to the right people love you. 
7. People are proud of you. 
8. You will make the best out of life. 
9. Keep fighting. You will get there. 
10. You are success. 

The post GirlSpring Affirmation Wednesday appeared first on GirlSpring.

GirlSpring’s Affirmation Wednesday is a weekly series that shares uplifting affirmations written by teen girls, for teen girls. These affirmations were created by girls who participated in the Girls at the Center Program, which was supported by a grant from the Women’s Foundation of Alabama in 2022 and 2024. Each Wednesday, a new affirmation is posted to help others feel seen, encouraged, and motivated to take on the week with confidence.

What makes it special is that the affirmations come straight from real girls who’ve been through it, sharing honest, heartfelt words that inspire others to keep going. It’s all about building a positive space where girls support each other, one powerful affirmation at a time.

1. You were created by the eyes of perfection; you are uniquely art. 
2. You will never be too much or too little. 
3. Your worthiness is not half empty; you can overflow rivers. 
4. You have more knowledge than you allow yourself to realize. 
5. Younger minds have fresher thoughts; children are smart, too. 
6. You can’t spread your voice without deciding to speak first.
7. I am not defined by a number. 
8. You are worthy. 
9. Love yourself.
10. You are smart. 

The post Girl Spring Affirmation Wednesday appeared first on GirlSpring.

GirlSpring’s Affirmation Wednesday is a weekly series that shares uplifting affirmations written by teen girls, for teen girls. These affirmations were created by girls who participated in the Girls at the Center Program, which was supported by a grant from the Women’s Foundation of Alabama in 2022 and 2024. Each Wednesday, a new affirmation is posted to help others feel seen, encouraged, and motivated to take on the week with confidence.

What makes it special is that the affirmations come straight from real girls who’ve been through it—sharing honest, heartfelt words that inspire others to keep going. It’s all about building a positive space where girls support each other, one powerful affirmation at a time

1. You’re not just an artist, you’re what art is. 
2. If you don’t feel loved right now, you’re around the wrong people. 
3. There’s nothing wrong with how you dress; everyone’s style fits who they are. 
4. Your hair fits you; you rock anything. 
5. You’re weirdly amazing.
6. You try your very best. 
7. There’s no “should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.” It’s done already. 
8. You are doing what your heart desires. 
9. There’s no such thing as “being too smart.” You are a scholar. 
10. You are gorgeous, inside and out. Your looks don’t define you.

The post Girl Spring Affirmation Wednesday appeared first on GirlSpring.

GirlSpring’s Affirmation Wednesday is a weekly series that shares uplifting affirmations written by teen girls, for teen girls. These affirmations were created by girls who participated in the Girls at the Center Program, which was supported by a grant from the Women’s Foundation of Alabama in 2022 and 2024. Each Wednesday, a new affirmation is posted to help others feel seen, encouraged, and motivated to take on the week with confidence.

What makes it special is that the affirmations come straight from real girls who’ve been through it—sharing honest, heartfelt words that inspire others to keep going. It’s all about building a positive space where girls support each other, one powerful affirmation at a time

1. You will improve where you struggle. 
2. Your scars are beautiful. 
3. You are capable of all things that you put your mind to. 
4. I am beautiful. 
5. I am smart in many different ways. 
6. I am better at some things than others, and that’s okay. 
7. Nobody’s perfect, but you can always try to be the better person. 
8. You’re still growing. 
9. You’re made for a reason. 
10. Always be yourself. 

The post Girl Spring Affirmation Wednesday appeared first on GirlSpring.

These lessons also foster healthier school climates. Programs that integrate social-emotional learning reduce bullying, improve peer relationships, and boost academic success (CASEL, 2023). Beyond school, students who learn to recognize signs of anxiety, depression, and trauma are more likely to seek help — or help others. A generation that understands mental wellness will be stronger, kinder, and more resilient.

Sources:

• https://www.nami.org/personal-stories/mental-health/
• https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/how-does-sel-support-your-priorities/sel-and-mental-health/

The post Why Mental Health Education Belongs in Every School appeared first on GirlSpring.

Having trouble with your anxiety as of late? Those negative thoughts rolling in with the constant fear of going outside? This Self Love Recipe will help you combat these issues to succeed in a new mindset! 

Ingredients 

• 1 weighted blanket 

• 2 ½ cups of your favorite movies 

• 1 tablespoon of a new journal 

• 3 tablespoons of something sweet. If you don’t prefer something sweet, try to have your comfort meal on standby.

• 2 pinches of moments of reality 

• 1 phone 

• 4 cups of long deep breaths 

• 1 hot shower 

• 1 ½ cups of a good old nap

Directions 

• STEP ONE: Wrap yourself up into a weighted blanket to camp yourself down. On a day like this having a weighted blanket will help form a space of comfort of reassurance when there is no one else there to give it. 

• STEP TWO: Take out a piece of paper or any form of note taking and begin to write words of affirmations to combat the negative condensations you give to yourself. The journal will help with this, jotting down your thoughts and feelings will help you along the way. This serves as an outlet to regulate your emotions and give you a chance to give yourself grace. Not everything needs to be discussed with others, give yourself privacy.  

• STEP THREE: Declutter your life. Get rid of everything you’re holding onto that you don’t need nor want. This can be clothes, photos, schoolwork, or possibly random items. Sometimes items hold onto unwanted memories holding you back.  Now this is completely optional, but it would be good to delete social media or limit yourself as much as possible to limit comparing yourself. 

• STEP FOUR: Take a deep breath. Roll your shoulders back. Reflect. Everything is going to be alright. 

• STEP FIVE: Take a long hot shower then get comfortable within your safe space. This can be your room or simply your bed or any place in the house that has a TV or any transportable device. Wrap yourself in the weighted blanket from before and some covers and take a long nap. Sometimes that’s all we need to defeat our anxiety is to simply rest. And after doing a lot of self-care for the day and trying to rewire your mindset it’s necessary. 

The post A Recipe To Battle Anxiety with Self Love appeared first on GirlSpring.

by: Olivia Duchanaud

New beginnings in the air,

Just as Earth starts to share,

We all want to be there.

All the way to warmer weather and flowers blooming,

Much like how our minds start maturing,

Right when staying asleep is so alluring,

And at the time where everything starts zooming.

Summertime is so near,

But then again,

Will it ever be here?

We all have late nights and early mornings,

And early nights and late mornings.

We will forever be changing,

But nothing will be left completely in our past,

We still remember our birthday party from when we were four,

and we still remember that time we had a fight with our friend.

But as we face the powerful truth we will always be changing.

We understand that with our changes we move forward,

Forward to our future,

Forward,

Away from things that may have hurt us.

We move toward a better mentality,

One that still contains special traits and memories that make you,

But at the end of the day,

We understand that you are you,

And you will always be changing,

Even in little ways,

In movement toward a future of prosperity.

The post Springtime: New Beginnings While Always Changing appeared first on GirlSpring.