10 Important Affirmations for Teens

 

Unfortunately, anxiety and depression are on the rise among the teen population. 

Adults tend to forget that being a teen is an emotionally volatile time. It's not uncommon to hear them say, "My life is over" or "What's the use?" Society tends to reject these declarations as being overdramatic but for many teens, sometimes it may actually seem like the end of the world to them. 

If you're searching for a way to improve your child's mental state, consider helping them to practice positive thinking and recite phrases of positive affirmation to help combat negative thoughts and propel growth.

Similar to how exercise can boost physical health, daily affirmations like those suggested in the graphic above empower teens to take charge of their emotions, handle changes, and believe in their unique qualities.

Thoughts and words are powerful. A positive frame of mind can lead to making better decisions. 

Parents and caregivers, please take time to affirm your teens and help boost their overall well-being so they can become happy, confident young adults. 

Happy First Day of Fall 2026

 

After months of heat and humidity, a little relief may be on its way as we usher in the Fall Equinox this evening! 

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the fall equinox is an astronomical event when the sun sits directly above the Earth's equator, marking the official first day of autumn. On this day, daylight and darkness are roughly equal at 12 hours each. 🌞🌛

The Sun crosses the celestial equator moving south in the Northern Hemisphere. Neither the Northern nor Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. After this day, the Northern Hemisphere tilts farther away from the sun - leading to shorter days, longer nights, and cooler weather.

Be sure to Welcome Fall at 8:04pm this evening! 🍂

UthMpact Class XVI Etiquette Dinner

Kudos to our UthMpact Board for leading the 16th Annual UthMpact Polk Etiquette Dinner held last month on August 26, 2026 at The Club at Eaglebrooke. Students who are participating in the 2026-2027 UthMpact Leadership Class XVI enjoyed an amazing opportunity to network with members of the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association and savor a fine dining experience. 🍴

At the Etiquette Dinner, our teen leaders learned the importance of proper dining etiquette in a formal setting and discussed informative topics with members of the business community including advice about hiring practices for young people and sharing life and career insights. 

Special thanks to The Club at Eaglebrooke and to the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association for their continued support!

 

Trick or Treat with Polk Sheriff Grady Judd on October 24

 

Get your best Halloween costume ready for this safe and family-friendly event planned for Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, at Sun 'n Fun, located at 4175 Medulla Road, in Lakeland, FL. 🧡

Families will be treated to fun entertainment, candy, music, dancing, photos, and characters.👻And best thing is...it's FREE! Contact the Polk Sheriff's Office for more details and info.

National FAMILY DAY: A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children September 28

 

Mark your calendar for Monday, September 28, which is National Family Day: A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children - a reminder of the power of meals, connection, and togetherness.👪

We encourage you to participate in this national effort to promote family dinners as an effective way to reduce youth substance abuse and other risky behaviors. Research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University consistently finds the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they may be to smoke, drink or use illegal substances.🚭

Learn more about this initiative, sign the Family Day Pledge, and receive tips to talk with your children by visiting https://www.informedfamilies.org/

Support National Infant Mortality Awareness Month in September

 

September is National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, a time to recognize that every baby deserves the chance to celebrate a first birthday and thrive beyond it.👶Infant mortality reflects the health of families and communities, and reducing it requires continued attention to healthy pregnancies, safe sleep, access to quality prenatal and pediatric care, and support for parents before, during, and after birth.

An excellent local resource we'd like to share for families to contact to obtain valuable information from Florida Healthy Start is the Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties, Inc., located at 650 E. Davidson St., in Bartow, FL. Contact them at (863) 534-9224 and visit them on their website at:  

https://www.healthystarthhp.org/

Always Remember – Never Forget: September 11, 2001

 

September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten - 25 years later, Americans continue to honor the memories of those who lost their lives, pay tribute to the bravery of first responders, and reflect on the values of freedom, democracy, and resilience.

Although time goes by, we will always recall where we were during one of the worst days in American history as tragedy ensued at the Twin Towers in New York City, at the Pentagon, and aboard United Airlines Flight 93 over Pennsylvania.

Out of these unspeakable tragedies came stories of strength, courage, fortitude, and some of the bravest acts of the heroes of 9/11. We remember the innocent lives lost, the heroes who stepped up to defend our country, the families who suffer painful loss of loved ones, the volunteers who gave selflessly, and those who sacrificed everything. God Bless America!