blessings of gathering
According to a 2022 study from the National Library of Medicine, key elements of healthy human behavior include social participation, community gathering, and belonging to society, and promote healthy physical and mental health. It is an “essential element” for good health.
Breland Noble describes Homecoming as a “sense of protection” against the world.
“Gathering is one way to create positive energy in your body,” Breland Noble explains. “Think about endorphins and dopamine. What could be a better endorphin boost than when you know you look good and someone shouts it across the yard?”
Breland Noble describes Homecoming as a “sense of protection” against the world. Returning to The Yard alleviates the stressors of being black in America. She believes that natural homecoming events, such as seeing a familiar face or being remembered years later, are important and that recognition can act as validation.
“Coming back to The Yards makes me feel seen, heard, valued, and acknowledged,” she says, noting that anti-Black racism is a prominent problem in America. “When I go, it’s like an oasis in a sea of racist bows and arrows, and we avoid it. Being at Homecoming is a great way for me to deal with things like that.” It’s just a moment where you don’t have to.”
Breland-Noble notes the mental knock-on effects of being in a positive physical space. The feel-good brain chemicals serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins are necessary to generate positive energy.
“Gathering together is one way to create positive energy,” Breland-Noble said. “Gathering together helps promote, amplify, strengthen and double the positive hormones you get when you have positive, happy experiences.”
She also notes the intergenerational health that Homecoming promotes, as festivities are planned for bison of all ages. She expressed her excitement for her two children, Morgan, a second-year business student, and Miles, an incoming political scientist, as third-generation Bison who will experience Homecoming as a student participant and eventually as an alumnus. spoke.
“It’s happening in a group, so it physically connects you to multiple generations before and after you,” Breland Noble says. “It reminds me that as a Black person, I am beautiful, worthy, and worthy of celebration.”
Breland-Noble Wellness Homecoming Tips
Breland Noble combines his excitement and expertise about homecoming celebrations to share mental health tips to help keep homecoming uplifting for attendees. “As a Black person, you have a duty and responsibility to take care of your mental health,” Breland Noble says. “We owe it to ourselves to be mentally healthy.”
Important elements of healthy human behavior include social participation, community gathering, and social belonging. Set your intention
Breland Noble suggests that Homecoming participants use mental exercises to create an intentional mindset that is “realistic and grounded.” Starting with a simple “I do” can help you imagine what makes you feel seen, safe, and present in the moment.
“The intention is to ‘enjoy this weekend or the week,’ ‘to surround yourself with like-minded people and soak up the glow,’ (or) ‘to experience first-hand what Homecoming has to offer me. ‘Let’s see,’ she says.
There’s no comparison in The Yard.
President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quote, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” is what Breland Noble believes in providing the best homecoming experience possible. “We shouldn’t be there to try to compare ourselves or assess how well I’m doing compared to my peers,” she says.
Observations about vehicles, employment status, or who is (or isn’t) attending can get in the way of the festivities. “No one should have to do that. We’re all Howards and we all have a love for Howards,” Breland Noble says. “I think it’s a lot more fun if you can go to Homecoming with the perspective of enjoying it instead of measuring yourself by some imaginary standard.”
be open
“Don’t anticipate what your experience will be like,” Breland Noble recommends. “No matter what your experience is, just be there.”
Breland-Noble says the best way to be open is to return to The Yard with an open mind and clean emotions. Being neutral, she says, makes it easier to create new memories and paint an honest picture of the year’s homecoming celebrations for you and your loved ones.
“We’ve all done what we’re supposed to do in life and we should all be happy to be here,” Breland Noble said. “If you go in there with a neutral mind space, you’ll be happy and excited to meet people and just be there.”
