StandWithUs

MICHIGAN

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

5TH ANNUAL GALA

Let Them Color!

CELEBRATING THE 14TH ANNIVERSARY OF STANDWITHUS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2015 6:30 PM

ADAT SHALOM SYNAGOGUE, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334

By Melissa Farrell I Special to the Jewish News

M

ost of us have seen the

new trend of adult color-
ing books sweeping social
media, promising to relieve stress and
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anxiety. Amazon now has a category
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for "Coloring Books for Grown-Ups"
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on its site and even CNN put together
a list of bestselling adult coloring
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books.
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It's clear that people are willing to
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at least buy these books to give it a
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try. However, the question remains for
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many: Does coloring actually reduce
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art
anxiety? Are adults just yearning for
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the carefree days of youth? Well, I'm
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sure that everyone has days when we
would rather be kids again (especially
when bills are due), but many psy-
and the demands for academics and
chologists have known the power of
focused attention have increased. Once
coloring for years.
our children start to grow beyond
I began using coloring in my prac-
"typical" coloring pages of cartoon
tice in 2008 after reading an article
characters, many of them give up on
about the coloring of intricate and
the pastime. However, this important
repetitive patterns, including man-
avenue to anxiety relief should con-
dalas — spiritual and ritual sym-
tinue to be encouraged.
bols in Indian religions, representing
Buy, print or make coloring pages
the universe — being useful in reduc-
for your pre-teen or teenager. Supply
ing anxiety.
them with colored pencils and fine
Anyone who visits my office can see
point markers. It can also be a great
what has been dubbed my "wall quilt"
way to foster a connection with kids
where I display my clients' work. The
who so rarely slow down enough to
key ingredient for why coloring man-
talk with. When they are anxious or
dalas reduces anxiety appears to be the unable to settle themselves, color with
intricacy and amount of attention to
them! You can even make a "coloring
detail required for the activity.
night" or build it into your routine
Coloring intricate designs and
before bed. You need not even speak;
focusing on a concrete task like
the shared activity itself can lead to
coloring can help people achieve a
better connection and calm for the
state of "mindfulness:' a term most
both of you. *
people associate with meditation.
Mindfulness is actually defined as "a
Melissa Farrell is a clinical psychologist at
mental state achieved by focusing one's Jewish Family Service.
awareness on the present moment:'
and while meditation is certainly one
way to achieve mindfulness, it is not
the only way. Studies have consistently
shown that coloring allows one to
achieve mindfulness, which in
turn causes a reduction in
anxiety.
While the focus of
the research has been on
the benefits of coloring
for adults, it is important to
remember that our kids need
ways to be mindful, too.
While we all associate coloring
with small children, the arts have
been diminishing in our schools

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FOR THEIR WORK
ON BEHALF OF ISRAEL,

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HONORING
ANNETTE & RUSSEL
MESKIIN

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

USSEIN ABOUBA

SURVIVOR 0
TAH RI R SQUARE
VIOLENT RIOTS IN
EGYPT DURING THE
ARAB SPRING

GALA CHAIR

REVA ROSEN

RECEPTION, PROGRAM,
AND DINNER

MUSIC
STEFAN KUKURUGYA

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT
STANDWITHUS MICHIGAN

248.891.2563

STANDWITHUSMICHIGAN@GMAIL.COM

REGISTER ONLINE AT
STANDWITHUS.COM/MIGALA

StandWithUs

Supporting Israel Around The World

StandWithUs is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to ens..
ing the story of Israel's achievements and ongoing challenges is told on cam-
puses and in communities around the world. We believe that education is the
road to peace - that knowledge of the facts will correct common prejudices
about the Arab-Israeli conflict and will promote discussions and policies that
can help promote peace in the region.

November 19 2015

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