This past week in Northern Colorado has been a doozy—a triplex of tragedy, stress, and the beginning of seasonal changes. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep moving forward, but as always, Fort Collins finds ways to help its own.

Coping Creatively

When tragedy strikes a community, the impacts on everyone—from strangers, to friends, to family—are huge. In moments like this, it feels like you are alone. However, there is a class to help you work through your grief.

Pathways Hospice is a community leader in assisting individuals and their families through grief and loss, and hospice services. They pride themselves on looking after the whole family, from mental and emotion health to providing comfort for individuals within their care. Sometimes, that means assisting with a loss.

This particular course is called Creative Coping. It is a four-week art therapy course for individuals who are experiencing grief that allows them to connect with others. No art experience is necessary for participants. The idea is to help individuals learn how to cope in healthy ways using creative expression.

Registration is required for the course. It is $60 to register for all for sessions. Sessions are on September 11^th, 18^th, and 25^th, and October 2^nd, from 6 to 8 PM at Pathways at 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525. For more information, please check out the links below.

Writing under Pressure

Grief isn’t the only stressor that a person can face this time of year. For many writers, they know that the fall months are often chaotic and terrifyingly busy. Sometimes, writing (as a stress-reliever) is hard to do, thanks to soccer practice, and college, and whatever else crazy busy event comes along.

Shut Up & Write!™ is an international group that aims to bring local writers together to write every week. Writers are encouraged to RSVP and arrive 15 minutes early to the event to get settled, and then at the end, writers can socialize and mingle galore!

Fort Collins hosts a Shut Up & Write!™ event every week at Wolverine Farm Letterpress & Publick House. Ordinarily, the event is on Wednesdays from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. This week, though, the event is on Tuesday, September 11^th during the same time. The first fifteen minutes marks brief intros, then solid writing from 7:15 to 8:15, and then socializing with other writers (optional) from 8:15 to 8:30.

Be forewarned: outlet space is limited and you must RSVP. Make sure your devices are charged, bring headphones if background noise bothers you, the Wi-Fi is free and available. Try to thank the hosts by purchasing one of their beverages (they have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) or peruse their limited selection of snacks. The event is being held downstairs unless there is not enough space. If not, they’ll be upstairs.

The venue parking is limited so be sure to arrive early, or bike if you can.

Go get your write on.

For more information about Pathways: https://pathways-care.org/

For more information about Pathways Support Groups: https://pathways-care.org/griefandloss/grief-services-2/support-groups/

For more information about Shut Up & Write!™: http://www.shutupwrite.com/

For more information about the event at Wolverine Farms: https://www.wolverinefarm.org/event/shut-up-write-3/?instance_id=22497

Crystal Angevine

Crystal Angevine is a CSU Alum, who dreams big and works hard. She loves being in the outdoors, lives for her family, and tries hard to be the change she wishes to see in the world. On any given Saturday, she might be found knitting, doing other handcrafted arts, or playing video games. She grew up in Northern Colorado, but still loves exploring Fort Collins and the surrounding areas. What better way to do that than by telling the world about the plethora of events dear old FoCo has to offer?