August 2023 Issue : simplebooklet.com

Dear Readers, Authentic Insider is getting you ready for regular scheduledprogramming, starting with a piece from Kathryn Marsh for ourProsecutor's POV about navigating a new school and how tohandle bullying. After the most recent ruling by the Supreme Court that effectivelystruck down the ability of public and private universities to includeaffirmative action in admissions decisions, current student TaiaHopkins shares her perspective on how this decision could effectindividuals who look like her. Trauma has the ability to destroy lives, but trauma therapy has theability to construct a stronger foundation. Entrepreneur AshleyCampbell shares how PTSD Therapy helped her put her life backtogether. High Guide Podcast Host April Pride shares how a late ADHDdiagnosis affected her life and how cannabis and psychedelics canhelp. Trauma Educator Karen Gross contributes a little piece of kindnessand why the world could use a little more. And as in every issue, we have our monthly AIM MotivationalPlaylist, along with my picks for children and adult books aboutmental health. Plus, check out Joy Larkin's Twin Flame Readings tosee what's in store for you this month.Happy Reading!Lorilee BinstockAuthentic Insider | Page 02editor's noteLorilee BinstockEditor in Chief

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Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed Psychedelic Assisted Therapy https://moxieschool.com/the-art-of-transformation/www.moxieschool.com heather@moxieschool.comConnect: The IFS Model (Internal Family Systems) is one of the fastest growing and most popularinterventions for working with psychedelics. Why? Because it's such a natural and effectivepairing for the material that expanded states naturally elicit. Fast track your opportunity to learn IFS by joining The Moxie School in this wildly exciting niche! If you want to learn IFS as it applies to expanded states, The Art of Transformation courseteaches effective methods to deeply anchor transformation in your clients. No matter whatstage of the process you are working: preparation, guiding, or integration, an IFS Informedapproach is key to supporting your clients in lasting transformational change. Lots of courses teach “about” psychedelic assisted therapy, this course teaches you the “how to” of doing interventions throughout psychedelic transformational work. Whether you are a therapist, coach, or guide - a medical professional, mental healthprofessional, or a mid-life career transition person - you are welcome! Bring your curiosity for IFS and your love for working with expanded states!LEARN MORETHE ART OF TRANSFORMAIONAll the detailsAuthentic Insider | Page 10

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B U L L Y I N G he beginning of a new school year is a fun, crazy,hectic and scary time for kids and families. Whether achild is starting kindergarten, the dreaded middleschool years, off to high school or starting college, thereis always an unknown dynamic of what students mayexperience for the first time. This unknown dynamicmay lead to fear. According to a Qualtrics study only31% of k-12 parents say their children feel very safe atschool, and 46% have said they either changed theirchild’s school or have considered changing schoolsover safety concerns. How to keep a child safe, healthyand happy at school is a big concern. I am not evengoing to attempt to delve into school shootings andwhat the government, communities or families can andshould do, rather this article is designed to addresssome daily issues that students are likely to encounterat some point in their educational career, specifically,bullying, harassment, or intimidation. There is often a misconception or downplaying ofbullying. Bullying is often portrayed or explained assimple name calling or teasing. The Oxford dictionarydefines bullying as “Seek to harm, intimidate, or coercesomeone perceived to be vulnerable.” As parents, itmay be hard to distinguish where simple teasing or hurtfeelings venture into bullying behaviors. Whenquestioned, approximately 20% of students aged 12-18 stated had experienced bullying within the past year.[1] It isimportant to recognize that children who are bullied are more likely toexperience depression, have higher levels of suicidal thought, or haveattempted suicide in higher numbers when compared to children whohaven’t experienced bullying.[2] While this may seem terrifying, it’simportant to remember that bullying and the effects of bullying arepreventable. The most important thing we can do is maintain an openline of communication with our children. Talk about expectations, howothers should be treated, and what your child can do if they are beingharmed. This includes talking with your children about what they shoulddo if they are being teased or bullied. 1) Teach and reiterate to your child about their own self-worth.2) Encourage them to be confident or project confidence. 3) Validate their feelings. 4) Talk to your child about ways to respond to teasing and/or bullying.This may include: disarming with humor; ignoring the bully; directly butcalmly confronting the bully. How your child responds will depend a loton your individual child’s personality. 5) Make sure your child understands that if they don’t feel safe, theyneed to walk away and talk to an adult. No child should feel that theymust “suck it up” or tolerate behavior that is designed to harm orintimidate.[1] Stopbullying.gov[2] Research Brief: Suicide and BullyingWritten by Kathryn MarshTAuthentic Insider | Page 11

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Find out before there is a problem. You don’t want to waituntil there is a crisis to know what to do.It’s important toknow what your school’s bullying policy is. Review the policytogether as a family. I used to be a terrible offender of justsigning the school handbook or behavior forms when it wassent home at the beginning of the year, but when we tookthe time to sit down as a family and review the policytogether it generated a lot of questions from my children andhelped them to better understand unacceptable behavior.When determining your school’s resources for bullying thisshould include knowing who the school safety/resourceofficers are, what types of camera systems your school has –trust me your children will know the answer to this questionand will also know all the dead spaces that aren’t capturedby cameras, what mental health professionals your schoolhas available and what prevention programs your school hasin place. It’s also important to know what your school’sresponsibility is to investigate bullying whether it happens inschool or online. Does your school do the investigation or isit referred to law enforcement? Most importantly find outwho your child would feel comfortable reporting an issue toat school.If your child is being bullied, talk to them about a course ofaction. Have your child included in problem solving. It isimportant that they have ownership in the decision. This mayinclude having your child try and speak to the other child, itmay include your child trying to ignore it for a little bit to seeif the behavior will stop.Whatever the course of action that isdecided, make sure to set target deadlines and follow upwith your child.If the behavior is truly bullying, and notsimple teasing, make sure you and your child document thebehaviors and actions that are occurring. None of us areexperts in every field and we’re all just trying to do the verybest we can for our children and our family. If you don’t knowwhat to do, never be embarrassed to seek outside assistanceand help for your child, and yourself.The Oxford dictionarydefines bullying as “Seek to harm,intimidate, or coercesomeone perceived tobe vulnerable"As parents we need to be aware that there are signs ofbullying that are both emotional and physical. Iremember a couple of years ago my child was havingabdominal issues. When I took him to the pediatrician,the first question the pediatrician asked, afterdetermining the location of the pain, was if he wasbeing bullied or teased. When I asked the pediatricianabout the question, I was informed that one of themost common signs of bullying in children isabdominal pain or stomach aches. Bullied childrenoften display symptoms of stress and anxiety as wellas withdrawing from social circles or not wanting to goto school. If you are concerned about how your childis acting, and they’re not communicating with you,make sure you are monitoring their social media andschoolwork. It’s not being invasive. It’s being a parent.Make sure you have an open dialogue with yourchild’s teacher. They are often the first to notice whenyour child’s behavior starts to change. I also highlyrecommend supporting school functions wheneveryour calendar allows. Authentic Insider | Page 12

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Authentic Insider | Page 14 You and I both deserve a sense of belonging in higher education.The term “sense of belonging,” initially coined by Maslow, regardedthe innate nature in which humans need to feel connected to otherindividuals. When furthering this research, Baumeister & Learystate, “Belongingness appears to have multiple and strong effects onemotional patterns and cognitive processes” (Baumeister, Leary,1995). Utilizing the theory of belonging, this research has penetratedacademic journals, furthering the conversation regarding the lack ofdiversity on college campuses by assessing and addressing the needfor inclusion within higher education. While still emerging, this research has promoted an understandingof why affirmative action is necessary for students entering highereducation. It has become evident that “Unfulfilled physiological andsafety needs are educationally (as well as morally) stop-and-fixsituations. Hunger is a stop-and-fix. Trauma is a stop-and-fix. Thestakes are not always as high in education as they are in first aid, butwe still must consider how overlooking the physical and emotionalwell-being of our students can be catastrophic (academic failure andsocial or even physical death)”. (Krzesni, 2015). It is clear that withinthis, acknowledgment of he direct experience that students encounter To the future, current and paststudents of this country:

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Authentic Insider | Page 15 on college campuses not only matters but also maintains and upholdsboth social and cognitive implications when not acknowledged.Most recently, the supreme court halted affirmative action, thus creatinga barrier to acknowledging race within admissions decisions. Whenfurthering the understanding of why this notion of affirmative actionremaining suspended is an act of violence towards minoritizedcommunities, it is necessary to recognize that affirmative action wascreated to reduce color blindness and to support an anti-racisteducation actively; while also furthering the ability for diversebackgrounds to intersect and engage in furthering their education. Thepolarization of ideals within this country's social and governmentalsystems significantly inhibits the advancement of a deepened socialunderstanding regarding inclusive practices and ways to acknowledgethe diverse backgrounds that enter a college campus. While it is stilllargely unclear about how this decision will affect upcoming admission

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decisions it is necessary to acknowledge the impact this is havingacross public institutions nationally, as well as for both current andfuture students attending higher education. I am sitting here, finding myself both deeply saddened and concernedfor the experience of future, current, and past students of thiscountry, and with this: the notion that has kept me going previously isa notion I wish to pass onto all of you throughout this time of deepuncertainty. Be loud- speak up- and be who you are. The color ofyour skin- the melanin holding you together should never inhibit youraccess into higher education and your access to your freedom tochoose your own path. As difficult as the times ahead us may lie: Iwant to remind each and everyone of us how we participate in thefight for diversity and inclusion is a direct choice that can andhopefully one day will foster equity and safety, and within publicinstitution: each of us matter, and each of us deserve to have a saywithin our future’s. As always, my thoughts remain with all of you- and I amsending only the most sincere love to each of you. -Taia Hopkins Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire forinterpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. PsychologicalBulletin, 117(3), 497–529. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497KRZESNI, DAVID. “PEDAGOGY OF BASIC NEEDS.” Counterpoints, vol. 503, 2015, pp.133–53. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/45136524. Accessed 30 June 2023.

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How PTSD TherapyHelped This High-FunctioningMess his story is about burying complex trauma and being ahigh-functioning survivor. I figured out that I have PTSDjust a few short years ago, at age 44. One morning afterchurch three years ago, I cried after my pastor asked mehow I was doing. As a regular church-goer, he'd askedme that question frequently and my response wasalways, "Great!" Or, "Busy but great," with a big smile. Thatday was different and I was so ashamed that I'd cried.The next day he called me to recommend that I see atherapist. I will be forever grateful to him, that he couldsee through me and know that I was in pain. Somethingin me knew I needed help and I wanted it not only formyself, but for my own family and marriage. Hisrecommendation felt like a relief and a recommendationof sanity.I booked an appointment with a highly recommendedcounseling group and did a 300-question intake formthat changed my life. If you'd asked me what I THOUGHTI was going in for I would have said anxiety, never PTSD.That intake form brought forth 25 years of painfulmemories that I'd buried. Here are a few of the questions:- Do you have a family member or parent who suffersfrom addiction? Yes. - Do you have a family member or parent with mentalillness? Yes.- Have you ever been molested? Yes. - Have you ever been raped? Yes. I was so shocked by the questions that I briefly thoughtabout lying on the form. A few days later I got a phone callfrom my new therapist, a man who specializes in PTSD andsexual trauma. At the time of the call I was at a restaurant witha girlfriend and after the therapist and I settled on anappointment date and hung up, I started laughing, hard - Iwas in shock about therapy being with a man, and abouthim specializing in PTSD. I know now that laughing was mycoping mechanism. I wasn't a cryer and I was out withfriends, so that meant strong, fun Ashley had to keep upappearances. I've made myself a successful and high-functioning person,but much of it was derived from survival. I'm an only childand I've been a successful daughter, step-daughter severaltimes over, step-sister, teen, wife, mom and businesswoman.I was a cheerleader in high school, was on the homecomingcourt and went to a good college and joined a sorority. I'mcurrently raising two beautiful kids and have started my ownbusiness and non-profit that I love. I have a good relationshipwith my kids, my husband, parents, extended family and myin-laws. I've done all of that, but the truth is, until therapystarted, most of my life I've been confused, anxious, sleepdeprived, depressed and terrified on the inside. I survived mychildhood, teen years and 20's by observing the actions ofothers who I deemed normal and successful, by being ableto relate to every kind of person, by becoming a caretakerand nurturer to those in need and by perfecting my outsideimage, as I learned growing up would help keep home safer.Here's what I went through when nobody was looking:Written By Ashley CampbellTAuthentic Insider | Page 19

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First of all, I can't remember any of my teachers in middleand high-school and I can't remember most eventsduring that time - even the fun events are missing frommy memory - popping up on FB every once in a whilefrom someone's feed.In my 20's and early 30's I went days without sleeping,often sitting on the bathroom floor at 3am so I wouldn'twake my husband, exhausted and in tears from chronicinsomnia in our NYC apartment, all while succeedingduring the day as a pharmaceutical sales rep. in the mostcompetitive zip code in the country. Neverunderstanding why I couldn't sleep.Multiple times during middle school, I sleepwalked homein the middle of the day, to find out that it was 12pminstead of 3pm - the normal time to arrive home. I onlydiscovered that I'd walked home three hours earlybecause my favorite cooking show that aired at 3pm,wasn't on. Then I'd look at the clock and think, "Oh myGod... it's noon and I'm home three hours early. What'swrong with me? How could I have done that? I messedup!" I know now that it was a form of disassociation andthat my mind was trying to protect me. In high school, my math teacher called my motherbecause she thought I might be on drugs, as I seemed,"always out of it in class." I'd never done drugs in my life,but that teacher noticed that something was wrong.In high-school and college while my friends were havingcare-free fun, I could never quite get there and Iconstantly beat myself up because of it. I wasn't capableof feeling carefree or in-the-moment like the rest of thembut didn't know why. I felt confused, isolated and differentbut tried like hell to mask it. It was exhausting. Somehow Ilearned to appear like everyone else and even succeedbeyond many, but I was always outside of myself. I've mademyself asuccessfuland high-functioningperson, butmuch of itwas derivedfromsurvival.Authentic Insider | Page 20

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When I was in elementary school they told me I waslearning disabled. I went through elementary schoolfeeling dumb and numb. I know now that I wasn't dumb, Iwas in a state of shock. That blocked my ability to learnand retain information. After earning the top testscore,104%, at our medical headquarters for mypharmaceutical company in my 30's, I thought back to allof the times I was told I couldn't do math and science,and again I felt confused. I loved science. Why couldn't Ido it when I was younger?That all happened and more, but there's always been alittle voice inside of me that propelled me forward. I'veworked very hard through three years of intense traumatherapy and began going to a Bible Study class with agroup of wonderful women. I attacked therapy like a lion.Something inside of me knew to take it seriously and inorder to do that, I needed to be honest and tell the storiesand emotions that I could remember (stories are easier for me, emotions are harder). I have a wonderful therapistwho's given me the runway to talk, remember, talk moreand regroup. I've remembered repressed incidents thatworked on my emotions day and night, but wereunretrievable in my mind. I've talked them out so manytimes that they don't hold nearly as much weight over meanymore. I've learned how to create healthy boundaries,to find things that bring me joy, to allow myself joy, to stealback little bits and pieces of childhood, to integrate pastsurvival skills with present situations, and to do it withgrace. I still have a long way to go, but I now know thatwith therapy, faith in God and trust in myself, I can and willheal.Be sure to check out the next issue of Authentic Insiderwhen I break down life as an only child with CPTSD andwhat it feels like to shoulder it alone. I wasn'tcapable offeelingcarefree or in-the-momentlike the rest ofthem but didn'tknow why.Authentic Insider | Page 21

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with ADHD informs the educational content shecreates for other women related to cannabis andpsychedelics.Anyone diagnosed as a kid understands howhelpful that road map can be yet a generation ofmiddle-aged women are navigating life withoutthis critical compass.Diagnosed at 38 years old, April is one of thesewomen who as schoolgirls were likely to havebeen chastised for daydreaming rather than“bouncing off the walls” as boys diagnosed withADHD often were described. Between her years of daydreaming and receivingher diagnosis, April lived the textbook life of ayoung woman navigating high school, college,post-college, and motherhood with a map. The High Guide host April Pride wasdiagnosed with ADHD in her late 30s,and her life changed in every way.Her unique perspective as a womanTThe result was a person rigid and obsessive inher thinking and her behavior. A pendulum-fueled life that was marked by pursuits to findpeace of mind and physical perfection. Alongthe way, she developed ways to manage andmitigate her ADHD symptoms - some good(running, yoga, sobriety) and some not-so-good(over-exercising, dependency, disorderedeating). April also developed low self-esteemdue to the additional learning challenges thatplagued her in school although she was an A/Bstudent who graduated at the top of her classand went on to receive Bachelor's and Master'sdegrees.April was diagnosed after reading an article inThe Daily Beast titled, “Adult Women Are theNew Face of ADHD,” which outlined theframework of a woman’s life after the structureof high school is replaced by the self-imposedschedule characteristic of college. The sameyear April received a diagnosis, WA Statelegalized Adult Use cannabis. After the birth ofher second son, April stopped drinking and April Pride, The High Guide PodcastAuthentic Insider | Page 23

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became grateful for cannabis as an alcohol alternativeuntil she found cannabis to be problematic whencombined with her ADHD impulsivity challenges. Her challenges with cannabis were further challengedby the fact that April became a very successfulcreative entrepreneur in the rapidly emergingcannabis industry. There's this growing popularperception that cannabis is therapeutic for ADHD, butit is a complicated relationship that people with anADHD diagnosis have. If you're diagnosed with ADHDas a child, you're three times more likely to haveCannabis Use Disorder, and you're also more likely toconsume cannabis at a younger age. The severity ofthe craving, the abuse, dependence, and the earlierinitiation are all true and heightened if you also havean ADHD diagnosis. April is a person who has to be very careful when itcomes to any substance with the potential for abuse,and she’s watched family members without diagnosisstruggle with various substances. Her own challengeswith impulsivity have been bettered with dailystimulant medications, and she credits her meds asgame changers because of the disruption to a chronicnegative self-talk loop.THERE'S THISGROWINGPOPULARPERCEPTION THATCANNABIS ISTHERAPEUTIC FORADHD, BUT IT IS ACOMPLICATEDRELATIONSHIPTHAT PEOPLEWITH AN ADHDDIAGNOSIS HAVE.Authentic Insider | Page 24

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April’s personal experience with ADHD extends toher father and younger son - both of whom haveADHD diagnoses. Her son received a diagnosis 35years before his grandfather. She understands theunique ways in which ADHD shows up in parenting -both good and bad. Most recently on her podcast OF LIKE MINDS, Aprilhas explored ketamine’s impact on increasingglutamate to improve symptoms related to ADHD.While the current research is inconclusive, there ispromising clinical evidence connecting themalfunction of glutamate and dopamine withincreased cognitive complications related to ADHD.Similar to patients who don’t respond toantidepressants, 10-30% of adults with an ADHDdiagnosis don’t tolerate the pharmaceuticals so analternative like ketamine may prove so revolutionaryfor ADHD. Recently, April’s ADHD symptoms have worsenedas perimenopause settles in, and she plans to turnto plant medicine to support emotional and sleepregulation. SHE CREDITS HER MEDS ASGAME CHANGERS BECAUSEOF THE DISRUPTION TO ACHRONIC NEGATIVE SELF-TALK LOOP.ABOUT APRIL PRIDEAn entrepreneur and a visionary, April is CEO/Founder atOf Like Minds, a brand for women seeking recreationalpsychedelic healing. April developed The High Guide tomarket products and brands she creates, including Of LikeMinds.Prior to her current roles, April founded Van der Pop in2015. This women-focused cannabis lifestyle brand wasacquired by Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC) in 2018. Shealso co-created & served as the inaugural host (2019-2021)of the podcast How to Do the Pot.Authentic Insider | Page 25

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As the mental health crisis reaches devastating levels post pandemic, more and more people arelooking for ways to manage their mental health. How does a childhood sexual abuse survivor, a veteran struggling with PTSD and an athletesuffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), trauma, and addiction find effective healing andrelief? Psychedelics. A treatment that was studied and used as effective treatment for mental health disorders until itwas banned and categorized as a schedule I drug in the 1970s, psychedelics have providedmuch needed relief for thousands of people suffering from trauma and mental health issues.Regardless of the laws banning these treatments, the people who understood the power of thesemedicines feel more empowered to find ways to help others find healing through them. On thefollowing page click on the graphic to view the Proof of Concept for "Our Own PersonalRealities." An Upcoming Documentary about the Fight toBring Psychedelic Healing Back into the LightAuthentic Insider | Page 28

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IKindness RocksProject:W R I T T E N B Y K A R E N G R O S SI’ve been pondering when to write this article aboutthe importance of kindness in general and thekindness rock projects that I have undertaken withschools in MA in particular. (Note the existence ofthe Kindness Rocks Project — well worth knowingabout it.) I wanted the posting to have value and tofoster thought among readers. I wanted to share thepower of kindness.Before addressing why I picked today to write thispiece, let me share two kindness projects.Project One: This project took place at Tech BostonAcademy, located in Dorchester, MA in May 2023. Itwas held at a school that lost its beloved leader,Keith Love, at age 53 in 2020 of cancer. He has beendescribed as the “heart and soul” of the school heran. And each year, to celebrate his life and legacy,Tech Boston finds ways to honor its former leader —with love.When I arrived at Tech Boston, with many rocks andpaint in the colors of the school, I was immediatelystruck by the preserved parking spot for Mr. Love.Right there, a reminder of his presence.And then, as we painted rocks (students andfaculty and counselors), we needed to find aplace for them to sit and be seen. And whatbetter place than near the image of TechBoston’s former leader — in the small greenerynear the image and dangling from the nearesttree? These rocks are all reminders of Mr. Love’smessages that coincided with his name: beloving. My translation: Be Kind.Pictures do not do the event (or Mr. Love) justicebut they do message. They message thatremembering matters, that kindness mattersand that we can move forward in the midst ofloss.Project Two: This is the second Kindness RocksProject at Highlands Elementary School inDanvers, MA, under the guidance of aremarkable art educator, Kris Smith. This is aschool system and town that has experiencedlots of trauma, as have many places to be sure.But, what is critical here is that the trauma isnow longer obfuscated; it is recognized andefforts are made to address it throughTHEY'RE NEEDED MORE THAN EVERAuthentic Insider | Page 30

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memorials and events and art. Remarkable actually.The most recent Kindness Rocks Project was designedto help others — getting those empathy engines goingby doing kindness for others (technically, this is allabout mirror neurons). So, the fourth graders createdkindness rocks that were then placed in two locationsin their town: outside the public library and the townhall. And they were accompanied by a sign that read:Take One if You Need One; And Leave One if You SoDesire.Here is an image above of the two “planters” that wereplaced:There are three important things that followed thisactivity (and do read what’s on the rocks painted bythe 4th graders too): (1) There was a school assembly atwhich some of the rock painters read what was ontheir rocks to the entire school population andhundreds of people paid attention; (2) There was thena posed question: Do you all want to paint rocks (400+kids and all the educators) next year and spreadthem across our town? There was a resoundingyes with cheers and raised hands. See imagebelow and yes, we are doing that project for theDanvers community; and (3) The project neededextra rocks because some of the studentspainted one extra rock to keep for themselves, amessage of kindness to carry with them in theirday-to-day lives. That’s important too.Why Do I Write Again about Kindness Today?I have been struck by three recent happenings(I can’t think of a better word at present).First, we have had a plethora of deaths andinjuries over the July 4th holiday across manystates. It turns out that July 4th is one of thedeadliest holidays in terms of violence in ournation over time. And note the irony: as wecelebrate freedom and the pursuit of happiness(a value highlighted in the Declaration ofAuthentic Insider | Page 31

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Independence), we have people gunned downand hurt, the antithesis of freedom andhappiness.Second, the recent Supreme Court decisionsand dissents rose to a new level of meanness.Sure, we can have intellectual disagreementsand different judicial philosophies. But, themost recent opinions are nasty in tone andthere is evident animus across the Court.I think the last such opinion of a similar naturethat I recall was Justice Marshall’s dissent in USv. Kras in 1973 (aptly named since the casedetermined that one had to pay the filing fee toseek bankruptcy relief as there was no in formapauperis argument), where he derided theCourt’s majority for failing to understand whatit meant to be poor. He stated and I quote sinceit is so so different from the way the majorityand dissents on the current court are framedand expressed:“It may be easy for some people to think thatweekly saving of less than $2 are no burden [theamount needed to be saved to pay the filingfee]. But, no one who has had close contactwith poor people can fail to understand howclose to the margin of survival many of themare….It is perfectly proper for judges to disagreeabout what the Constitution requires. But it isdisgraceful for an interpretation of the Constitutionto be premised upon unfounded assumptionsabout how people live.”Artful, heartfelt, firm, declaratory, direct.In contrast, here are some phrases from theaffirmative action decision decided on June 29,2023 (remembering but not addressing here thatthe actual heart of many opinions rests in itsfootnotes — below the proverbial belt and it isthere, beneath the line, that the real legalwrangling occurs and messaging andforeshadowing occurs. For proof, see CaroleneProducts Footnote 4):“Lost in the false pretense of judicial humility thatthe dissent espouses is a claim to power so radical,so destructive, that it required a Second Foundingto undo.”“Worse still, Justice _______ uses her broadobservations about statistical relationshipsbetween race and select measures of health,wealth, and well-being to label all blacks as victims.Her desire to do so is unfathomable to me.”“At bottom, the six unelected members of today’smajority upend the status quo based on theirpolicy preferences for what race in Americanshould be like….”“The supposed recognition that universities can, insome situations, consider race in application essaysis nothing but an attempt to put lipstick on a pig.”“Citing nothing but his own long-held belief, Justice_____ also equates affirmative action in highereducation with segregation….”Authentic Insider | Page 32

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“With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, today, the majoritypulls the ripcord….”Third, I just attended a local community Fourth of July eventthat was packed with intergenerational families. It waspeaceful. Everyone seemed to get along. It was an event thathad been in existence for 100 years — a fire fighters’ paradeand then a bonfire (OK, it had been raining so the wood wassmoldering not burning for a long while with lots of smokewhich was sub-optimal given our recent experience in the NEwith smoke). People chatted with each other — strangers tostrangers. Firefighters were carefully overseeing the flames.People watched and gawked and gathered. Yes, gatheredtogether. I didn’t see one act of unkindness, recognizing ofcourse that I could have missed some due to crowds.“Consider the image of the bonfire (left). I show it because I dothink the flames of freedom still burn and the flames ofkindness are there to be kindled and rekindled. Yes, and theflames can be doused and eliminated. And, there are risks inevery Democracy that it could topple like the bonfirestructure. And yes, there is danger in democracies as there isin all governments. And there’s lots of smoke around.But, it is worth remembering that flames matter; the flames offreedom define who we are as individuals, communities and anation. Kindness counts. It is a flame too. We need it — as areminder to those who don’t extend kindness ever or onlyrarely and as a further reminder that it still is within the realmof the possible to treat our fellow humans well. This particularbonfire was hard to ignite but it did eventually catch on — likekindness can and should.To repeat: kindness counts. It counts a lot. Now.Note. Thanks for the Mass Cultural Council for supporting mytrauma and kindness work. And an added thanks to KrisSmith, Mary Wermers, April Brunnell and Robert Bardwell formaking these Kindness Rock Projects happen. Attending thebonfire was Betty Landry’s idea; so my appreciation. And to JS:you get kindness, of that I am sure.Authentic Insider | Page 33

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MOTIVATIONAL PLAYLIST "Wake Me Up – AviciiI Will Survive – Gloria GaynorStronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly ClarksonDon’t Stop Believing – JourneyBeautiful Day – U2Survivor – Eye of the TigerHall Of Fame – The ScriptGet up Stand up – Bob MarleyI’m Still Standing – Elton JohnYou Only Live Once – The StrokesGet Ur Freak On – Missy ElliottWhatever It Takes – Imagine DragonsReady to Start – Arcade FireStarted At The Bottom – DrakeCan’t hold us – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (feat. Ray Dalton) It's time to get back tothe grind. Here's onemotivational playlist thatwill inspire to get thatblood pumping and thebody moving. So turn upthe tunes and let's go!Authentic Insider | Page 35

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Anxiety comes from feelings of being worried, scared, or anxious. Whenthese feelings are in small amounts that’s okay because they are thereto help protect us, but when they get TOO BIG, they becomeoverwhelming and need to be managed.This story addresses how anxiety can affect all ages and how it canshow up in all different situations. The Gray SPOT in the story createsa visual representation of Anxiety so that a child can see when it's getstoo big, and how to shrink it back to a Green PEACEFUL SPOT.It's Mouse's first day of school, and she is so nervous. She can't eather cereal, and she wonders what the children will be like. And it'sDinosaur's first day of school, too! He is so nervous that he can't eathis toast. He is afraid that the teacher won't like him. And the schoollooks so scary! But when Mouse and Dinosaur arrive at school, they'reboth in for a big, happy surprise!*I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.Authentic Insider | Page 36Your child will incorporate the idea of 'I Can Handle It' almostimmediately after reading this book, even in our current uncertaintimes. After reading this book, they will have great ideas for how to‘handle’ tough situations! Even if they aren't saying the words out loud,this mantra will become a part of their self-talk. Positive self-talk isvital for improving and maintaining strong mental health which isexactly what the world needs right now.

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While on her way to teach a yoga retreat in March 2014, Rachel Brathencollapses at an airport, brought to her knees by excruciating stomach pains.She is rushed to the hospital on the tiny island of Bonaire, and hours laterforced to undergo surgery. When she wakes up from anesthesia, herboyfriend is weeping at her bedside. While Rachel was struck down withseemingly mysterious pain, her best friend, Andrea, sustained fatal injuriesas a result of a car accident. Rachel and Andrea had a magical friendship.Though they looked nothing alike—one girl tall, blond, and Swedish, theother short, brunette, and Colombian—everyone called them gemelas: twins.MENTAL HEALTHBOOKS (FOR ADULTS)A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat starJennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—includingeating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with heroverbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is aninspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing yourown hair.Unresolved trauma can cause a number of mental health conditions, butthis doesn’t have to be the way life defines you forever. You deserve better!The truth is that you CAN break free and drive yourself in a new directionby using psychedelics in a safe and controlled manner.Don’t know where to begin? We’ve got you covered by providing a robustguide of the most common psychedelics used for healing and recovery*I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.Authentic Insider | Page 37

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For the month of August, I see that someone in a partnership could be hiding a marriage or be on the vergeof getting a divorce. Someone may want to send a person a message but did not. Decisions need to bemade. There may be a lot of confusion stirring in people’s lives. For singles you might have an abundance ofoptions but even that could be overwhelming!If you are single, the right person will be there for you. They may be at a distance waiting for someone toreach out to them. A person is feeling betrayed by a situation. The cards show that select few could be feelinghurt because of an involvement with multiple people. I also feel that a person feels upset because someoneleft their life. For the collective, you are doing what is best for you, meaning you are leaving unhealthy andtoxic people in the past.The cards are showing that a lot of people are mentally and emotionally dealing with despair. Depression isanother feeling that people are feeling for many different reasons. For those who are looking for work, I feelyou will find something soon. Don't give up because when you least expect it, you will find a job or start a newcareer.Regarding children, I feel that someone wants to spend more time with their family, or a person misses beingaround their kids. Soon there will be an opportunity to spend time with the family. Those who have been at their job or career for a while could be working more hours, getting opportunities,and advancing within the company soon.The end of a tough cycle is approaching. I feel that someone needs to see a situation from a bigger picture.Surrendering to the divine is another card that was pulled. Prosperity lies ahead but a big release is neededin order to receive. Bring love into the situation. Take time to rest and relax. Conclusions are within reach forthose who want answers to their questions. Now is a time to give rather than take. Many people are close toachieving their goals and dreams. Good luck everyone. You can heal your life. To learn more visit my website at www.livenarcfree.comMonthly Collective ReadingsMonthly Collective Readings for All Signsfor All Signswith Joy Larkin (August 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023) Joy is a Narcissistic AbuseSurvivor who has made it her life'swork to help others through lifecoaching. She is also a healer,earth angel and psychic medium.If you would like coaching servicesfrom Joy and/or get your ownpersonal reading, please scan thebarcode below with yoursmartphone camera.READINGSPersonalINFOCoachingAuthentic Insider | Page 38