My favorite thing about being a student again is walking or riding my bike/the bus to campus, where I go even on days I do not have courses. Smelling the leaves, seeing the diverse smiling faces, getting exercise, listening to the birds and construction and hearing many conversations in all languages, and participating as a Delegate for the Council of Graduate Students (Arts and Culture Committee) are all perks of this new adventure in addition to my Nationally Ranked program. I’ll be organizing a campus public art sculpture tour and happy hour sometime in the spring.

Also, Brutus Buckeye just whizzed by on the sidewalk in a golf cart waving and high-fiving students. #neverdull#learningallday #newtechnology #gradstudentlife #whatstudentloan

I recently participated in the one-week long SNAP Challenge (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) spending $4.50/day for all food and drink. It gave me perspective and insight into how some families are facing real challenges in managing nutrition and being full on good, life-giving foods.

Today, I celebrated the gift of food samples offered by OSU’s vendors at World Food Day 2019- fair-trade tea samples, chocolate bars, chicken meatballs, and other delicious tastes. The idea behind today is to celebrate nourishing foods and nurturing the planet to help overall physical and mental well-being.

Today our Dean Tom lead a mid-day Mindfulness Meditation offering. Slowing down to refocus the mind and begin fresh each day encourages showing up as your best self.

Should you care to join:

10-minutes upon getting out of bed in the morning
Eyes open and focused ahead and down about 3-4 feet on something that doesn’t move
Focus on the breath
If the mind wanders, punctuate your thought and refocus on the breath
No judgement

Today is Indigenous Peoples Day

Here are some questions to prompt us to be mindful of the people who lived in Ohio first, whose land we inhabit, and whose culture we typically forget.

-Whose land do you live on?
-What do/did they call themselves?
-What was done to them?
-How do you benefit from that?
-What are they doing now?

Tonight’s event was outstanding! Thanks to the Ohio Union Activities Board for teaming up with the Muslim Students Association to bring Ibtihaj Muhammad to our our University for a night of empowerment, authenticity, mental health awareness, and her message of Faith over Fear. She is an Olympic Medalist Fencer for Team USA, Nike and Barbie spokeswoman, NYT Best Selling Author, founder of LOUELLA, and founder of Athletes for Impact. #mentalhealthawareness #nobulliesallowed #pleasereadherbook#stayopen #learnlots

Totally bought her book and got a chance to say hello. Can’t wait to give it to a friend’s child for Christmas when they visit Columbus. Shhhh… it’s autographed!

I lost a family member who died by suicide. I am sad, confused, and yet remain hopeful that his incredible life remains a testament to goodness and giving back in so many ways. As a social worker, I will continue to help promote services and resources to help others, in particular, beginning to specifically narrow my area of study and focus on positive aging and living with hope and optimism in older adulthood.

To celebrate his life, I decided to attend The Ohio State University’s RECESS day on the South Oval today. I met our new Counseling and Consultation Sevices embedded therapy dog, Oxley, a two-year-old Sheepadoodle, who is getting his “BarkID.” I blew bubbles to celebrate an easy fast with OSU Hillel. I got a temporary pirate tattoo that reminds me of my sister Wendy Rineveld. I played with a giant parachute, did some positive artwork, and even broke a board to destress! #takeabreak#mentalhealthawarenessweek #selfcare #painisreal #acknowledgeit#losshurts #crisistextline #textHOMEto741741

https://ccs.osu.edu/people/oxley-the-therapy-dog

I was recently elected by my classmates to serve as a Delegate for the OSU College of Social Work on the Council of Graduate Students. I’ll be serving on the internal Arts & Culture Committee, as well as learning tons about Student Legal Aid (SLS) thanks to a 2-year appointment on the Strategic Advisory Committee. Looking forward to collaborating!

Never a dull moment when my Mom comes to visit.

This will teach me to vacate my study chair. I was replaced by another Scholar!

If you identify as ethnically American, you can thank trailblazers like my friend and classmate, Sudarshan (Bhutanese Community Center), who advocates for the right to pay taxes, work hard, worship freely, own property, and dream alongside you. My ancestors came to the New World for the same reasons. There is no “us” nor “them.” This is a call to action to stay open to learning, experiencing for yourself, and delineating common humanity from divisive immigration politics. #newamericans#weareallamericans #kidsincages #assetbuilders#strengthsbasedleadership #askquestions @osucsw @ Fawcett Event Center

Bear and I are SO close to meeting my 2019 fundraising commitment for Pelotonia. He scored some new swag at our Team Buckeye event on Tuesday for the grand opening of the OSU Buckeye Bike Hub at the RPAC. First three donors of any amount get your choice of the Giro Revel Helmet Universal Size ($59 value), 2018 Script Ohio Women’s Large jersey ($69 value), or the Ohio State Recreational Sports branded Nalgene bottle ($15 value)!!! Please reach out to me directly in the comments to claim your prize and thank you for CRUSHING Cancer via bicycle and research funding dollars. #youresavinglives #letsroll

www.pelotonia.org/marierineveld