Have you ever wondered what identity really is, or maybe even questioned who you were as a person? Identity can be difficult to comprehend, especially as societal standards and the people we surround ourselves with may affect who we are. In times of Covid-19, we have all found our new selves and maybe even picked up a new interest, adding to the further developing identity we all have. In this episode, Lily and Ella will be speaking with Caroline, a senior at Northwood High School, who speaks about her identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. We all have our own story to tell that shows who we are and the challenges of being our true self, sometimes more than what we identify with. We hope you guys join us in listening to Caroline’s story and the insight she provides into the life of being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and the experiences and conflicts she has faced.

In this episode, Ella and Lily will be talking about the gift of giving, as there is more behind giving than just gifts. They will be talking about some ways to spread the gift of giving through donating and volunteering. To learn more about Toys for Tots, visit https://www.toysfortots.org. The videos talked about toward the end of the episode can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgEpHiOWOG4 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdSfg8qO8ts. Stay tuned for Chelsea’s Corner, where she will be talking about the true meaning behind giving. We hope you guys have a wonderful holiday and embrace spreading kindness and joy this holiday season!

In this episode, Ella and Lily will be talking about relationships, since they surround our everyday life. Vulnerability, trust, and toxicity are all things that are a part of relationships and define the connection between two people. With relationships comes heartbreak, so Lily and Ella will be touching some different ways to cope. One of our listeners, Miguel recommended this episode topic, so make sure to listen toward the end of the episode to hear him talk about his point of view on relationships. Chelsea will also be talking about healthy and unhealthy characteristics in relationships, which we hope you guys can connect to and maybe even learn something about. Remember the more vulnerable you are, the stronger your relationships become.

Turkey, dressing, potatoes, pumpkin pie, and casserole. These are usually the things that make us think of Thanksgiving! In this episode, Lily and Ella talk about Thanksgiving and the action of thankfulness and gratitude. They speak with some of their friends and family about their Thanksgiving traditions and what they are thankful for. Sometimes we get caught up in the hustle of daily life and forget the little things like gratitude. Lily and Ella share some ways to show your gratitude along with how to remind yourself to be thankful. If you want to learn more about how gratitude can make you happier check out this link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier. We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and make sure to show your gratitude to friends and family!

In this episode, Ella and Lily will be talking about forgiveness. Forgiveness can be very difficult, from forgiving ourselves to forgiving others. Stay tuned for a few “I forgive myself…” statements, information about the different types of forgiveness, and an amazing Chelsea's Corner. Lily leads a special segment where she walks you through how to forgive yourself for something. Also, remember when you are looking for someone’s forgiveness, it is really important to say what you are sorry for, as this may help someone forgive you and it makes your apology more sincere! We hope you guys enjoy this episode! 

Día de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead is a holiday that is celebrated to remember those who have passed away. Between November 1st and November 2nd those who have passed away return to the land of the living. In Groovy Girl’s first bonus episode, Lily speaks with her friend Abigail about this special celebration. Abigail shares how her family celebrates this holiday, the mood and emotions behind her family members coming to the land of the living, and she even paints a picture of what her ofrenda looks like this year. She shared with me an image of her family's ofrenda, which will be posted on Instagram at @groovygirlspod. If you are interested in learning more about Day of the Dead https://dayofthedead.holiday is a really informative website. Remember that the better we can understand the diversity of cultures and special celebrations in our country and world, the more united we become.

This year has been very difficult in many aspects, and there are some people that it has been especially hard for. In this episode, Lily and Ella talk about peace and International Day of Peace. They share two poems about the things going on in our world now and how important it is to be at peace and share peace, along with many other topics about peace. Make sure to stay tuned for a Chelsea’s Corner where she talks about what peace means to her. Remember that peace is what will make us stronger as individuals, a country, and the world.

Many people, all over the world, know the feeling of stress and doubt. In this episode, Lily and Ella check in with some of their friends about going back to school or doing virtual learning and even share their own experiences. We are so excited to announce our friend Chelsea Gallman is starting Chelsea’s Corner, which is featured for the first time in this episode! Welcome to Groovy Girls, Chelsea!! Stay tuned for conversations about stress and doubt, including seven tips to help relieve stress. Also, Lily’s mom, a marriage and family therapist talks about some ways to stay in the present moment and how this can reduce stress. The website she mentioned in her segment is http://mindfulnessforteens.com/. Remember to find little parts of the day to take a break to relieve some of your stress and find inner peace.