Join us this Saturday, August 19th from 10am-1pm to create customized wooden signs with Mobile Sign Shop! Bring your creativity and Mobile Sign Shop provides the rest.
They have the ability to create 20 signs per hour, starting at 10am, 11am, and 12pm. If you would like to sign up for a time slot, please stop by the library or call us at 507-825-6714.
We have a busy week of programs coming up at Meinders Community Library! All these events are free and open to everyone.
On Monday (8/14) evening we will be hosting Minnesota author Quinn Avery at 7pm. Quinn Avery is a bestselling author under various pen names of 40+ novels. As Quinn, she writes romantic suspense thrillers, some of which are set in her favorite haunts (i.e. Mankato and Lake Shetek).
Join us on Tuesday (8/15) afternoon at 2pm for Flamenco dancing and music with Sachiko “La Chayi” and the TC Flamenco Collective.
Mobile Sign Shop will be here on Saturday, August 19th from 10am-1pm to help us create carved, customized wooden signs. They have the ability to create 20 signs per hour, starting at 10am, 11am, and 12pm. If you would like to sign up for a time slot, please stop by the library or call us at 507-825-6714.
Join us next Thursday, August 10th for Games & Grub from 5:30-7:30pm! Bring a potluck dish to share and your friendly competitive spirit. We have lots of great choices at the library and we’re always open to trying new games. If you plan to attend, please let us know by calling 507-825-6714, filling out the form on the blog, or by stopping at the library.
Special Events
Weekly Events
On Friday, July 21st, Meinders Community Library will open at 8:00am and close at 1:00pm to accommodate electrical work in the afternoon.
Put your detective skills to the test on Wednesday, July 19th with Diggin’ Dinos Escape at Meinders Community Library from 10am-7pm! We will have this escape room set up as stations, so multiple groups can work on puzzles at the same time. Diggin’ Dinos is for all ages—the puzzles are geared towards elementary-aged children and older, but younger kids could participate with adult help.
It’s time for our next Summer Games & Grub, this Thursday, July 13th from 5:30-7:30pm. Bring your best potluck dish to share and come prepared to eat, play, and win! Please let us know if you will be attending either by calling the library at 507-825-6714 or filling out the contact form below.
On Friday, July 21st, the library will be closing at 1pm due to electrical work. We will open early that day at 8am to make up for the early closure.
Meinders Community Library will be closed Tuesday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. We will be open our regular hours the rest of the week.
Join us on Monday, July 10th for The Ant & the Grasshopper with Climb Theatre. In this continuation of Aesop’s Fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper, two friends compete together in the “Find Your Voice” competition. However, hardworking Ant and playful Grasshopper are having trouble finding their harmony. With the help of Queen Bee and the audience, Ant and Grasshopper will learn to BEE Kind, BEE a Friend, and BEE Together as they work towards creating a sound where everyone’s voice is a part of the chorus.
We also have another Games & Grub coming up on Thursday, July 13th from 5:30-7:30pm. Register to attend by calling us at 507-825-6714 or emailing info@meinderslibrary.com.
It’s June. School is out and the kids are on the go. Summer activities are in full swing. Vacations and holiday gatherings are being planned. Pools are crowded with people cooling off in the heat. Lakes are busy with swimming, boating, and fishing. Campgrounds are bustling with outdoor activities. Lots of fun and relaxing in the sun. Summer is finally here.
For some, it may not be all fun in the sun. For some, it will be filled with tears and memories or thoughts of what might have been. The could’ve, would’ve, should’ve that never came about. Anniversaries or birthdays without someone you will never forget.
This month I am writing about grief and what it can do to your mental health and well-being. The loss of a loved one is heartbreaking and can cause you to experience a long list of emotions. This could include shock, confusion, sadness, or even anger. Whether the death was expected or not, these feelings are all part of the mourning process and are common reactions to loss. If you are coping with a loss, you may not be prepared for the intensity and duration of emotions or the changing of moods. Some often question their mental stability, but just know that these feelings are appropriate and can help you come to terms with the loss. It takes time, but coping with death is essential to a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
Coping is a process and the extent of mourning will depend on the individual, the type of loss, and the void left by that loss. When pain and sadness worsen over time, grief can have an intense effect on one’s physical and mental health. Prolonged, chronic grief can lead to a complicated bereavement or grief disorder. The symptoms can be intensive and can include constant focus on the loss, problems with daily routine, and withdrawal or separation from family and friends.
Diagnosing a grief disorder can be difficult. If you have a history of depression, anxiety or substance abuse, you are at an increased risk of developing a grief disorder. There are many similarities between complicated grief and depression, but there are also distinct differences. In some cases, clinical depression and complicated grief occur together. Getting the correct diagnosis is essential for treatment, so a comprehensive medical and psychological exam is often done. Your doctor or mental health professional considers your particular symptoms and circumstances in determining what treatment is likely to work best for you. This can include psychotherapy or medication. Antidepressants may be helpful in people who have clinical depression as well as complicated grief.
Although it’s important to get professional treatment for complicated grief, here are some key strategies that may help you cope:
Grief is definitely a long, winding road and a difficult journey to be on. It is not a feeling that you will experience for a set amount of time. It is a complex set of multiple emotions and feelings that will continue for the rest of your life. People tend to believe that grief shrinks over time. What really happens is that we grow around our grief. I will end with a photo that has helped me during my journey. It was shared in one of my online support groups.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe!
~Sally~
Next Tuesday, June 27th is National Bingo Day! We’re celebrating with Bingo for Books at 2pm. We’ll have books and other fun prizes for all ages. And of course you can always pick up a Summer Reading Bingo card!
